01438 352863  I  admin@clitherow.herts.sch.uk

St Margaret Clitherow

RC Primary School, Stevenage

Jesus is our guide, let us follow him

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does school start? >

Morning Nursery:  8.45am - 12 noon
30 hours Nursery:  8:45am - 3:15pm
Reception to Year 2:  8.45am - 3.15pm (32.5 hours)
Year 3 to Year 6:  8.45am - 3.20pm (32.92 hours)

What do I do if my child is late for school? >

If your child arrives at school after the main gate has closed (9am), it is vital that you go to the School Office.  This is not just so that we can monitor punctuality, but is essential for fire safety and security.

What if I’m late picking up? >

Sometimes you may be unavoidably delayed.  Please let the office know as soon as possible and we will look after your child in the front entrance until you arrive.  Key Stage One children who are not collected will be looked after by their teacher and then brought to the office when it is clear that there is no-one to collect them.  If children are regularly collected late we will contact you to discuss the situation.

What if my child is going home with someone else? >

Please let the teacher know in advance, preferably via a note sent in that morning or telephone the school office.  We will not let a child leave with another parent or person without your permission.

How do I report my child absent from school? >

Please visit our Absence page for further information.
Click here for NHS guidance if your child is unwell.

How much does a school dinner cost? >

Please visit our school dinner page here.

How can I buy school uniform? >

Please visit our school uniform page here.

Can I take my child out of school for a holiday during term time? >

No.  No holiday will be authorised during term time. Any absences (other than illness, medical appointments or absences officially authorised by the headteacher for exceptional circumstances) will be recorded as unauthorised and you may incur a fixed penalty fine.  Exceptional circumstances are rare - a form is available from the school office.

What do I do if my child is prescribed medicine? >

Parents can arrange to come into school to administer medication to their own children if necessary. Only medicines prescribed by a doctor can be administered by the school.  You will need to complete a medical authorisation form which can be obtained from the school office.  Children with asthma, severe allergies, etc keep their medication in the Medical Room; these are given by a First Aid trained member of staff.

How long before my child can return to school after an illness? >

In the case of vomiting and diarrhoea your child should be well for 48 hours before they return to school.  If you are unsure please call us.

What do I do if I need to see a teacher? >

Teachers are normally available for brief enquiries after school. If you need a longer appointment, please contact your child's teacher or the office staff who will be happy to arrange this for you.

How will I know if my child is doing well at school? >

Through organised meetings, homework diaries, attending parents evenings and open days.  The teachers regularly assess progress both with testing and less formal assessment, such as observations and day-to-day marking.

What is expected of me regarding reading records? >

To encourage children to have a 'love' of reading, it is vital we all show an interest in their progress.  A positive stimulus for the child is to know that the teacher and parent are in regular contact and are working in partnership to support them.   In terms of recording, a signature to show you have heard your child read would be ideal but also any comments of praise, identified areas of development or simply recording how they read are of great help.
To find out more about how you can help with reading at home please visit our English learning page.

What clubs are there? >

Please visit our clubs page here

What do I do if my child has nits? >

You should tell your child’s Classteacher or the school office.  Your child will not be named as the carrier of nits/headlice, but we will be obliged to send out a letter to everyone in the class asking them to check for headlice due to the ease with which they spread around a class.

How do I get involved with the school? >

There are a number of ways in which you can get involved.    The PSFA is the fundraising body of the school: they organise events such as the Summer and Christmas Fayres,  Discos, etc. and are a good way for parents to get involved socially.  More details of the PSFA can be found here . Parents’ Forum meetings will be sent via Parentmail.

When do we teach swimming? >

Swimming is part of the National Curriculum and children in Years 3 and 4 have swimming lessons during the Autumn Term at Stevenage Swimming Pool.  The cost of the lessons and transport is covered by the school although you may wish to make a voluntary contribution.

What happens on school trips? >

School trips occur throughout the year and are a valuable addition to the curriculum, taking learning out of the classroom and into new contexts. Not only are trips a chance to find out more about topics, they also allow children to experience different places and learn how to be safe outside school.  We try very hard to achieve value for money and keep costs down but we do rely on parents paying the cost of the trip. Payment is always voluntary and we can help if we know there is a difficulty.  All school trip venues are visited in advance by staff and a full risk assessment is drawn up and agreed by the school leaders.  Sometimes a school trip may simply be a walk in the local area. We won’t necessarily give you notice or ask your permission for these walks as you will have signed a general consent form when your child joined the school.

On a school trip the children always need to take a disposable packed lunch.  If your child is entitled to a Free School Meal (not Universal Infant Free School Meal), a packed lunch can be provided by prior arrangement. Overnight trips occur in Year 6 every year and these are much anticipated by the children and long remembered.Your class teacher can tell you which trips are coming up in the year.

Still have questions?

If you have any further questions, please email or telephone the school - Contact Us