Information for Parents and Carers
Parental Engagement
St. Nicholas School offers an open-door policy to provide support to our students and their families. We strive to build strong relationships with parents/carers of our pupils to ensure they feel safe and happy at school, and support their development and achievement, too.
Ways we foster relationships with our school community
Where appropriate, staff will contact a parent/carer via text message, home/school booklet or phone calls to keep them informed and up to date with specific issues relating to their child.
Parents/carers are able to email their child’s tutor directly to ensure important information about their child is shared quickly.
The school has a Teachers 2 Parent system which is used to send texts to parent’s/carer’s mobile phones about future events, or event changes and reminders.
Letters are sent home, or the most important letters will be on the website – go to Letters/Forms
Parents are invited to attend a range of school events such as the Quest drop-ins, parent coffee afternoons and special assemblies.
Annual Post-16 Options Evening and Connexions interviews are held to assist pupils to make the transition to a provider after leaving school.
Work with local agencies and groups in the community to make parents aware of local support, such as Early Help services and Southend Foodbank.
A weekly newsletter is also produced and sent home to parents to keep them informed of school matters and community resources available.
Reviews and Meetings
Parents/Carers of pupils are invited to the school to discuss their child’s progress and achievements as part of the Education, Health Care Plan (Annual Review) meeting on an annual basis to ensure their needs are being met at St. Nicholas School.
Education, Health Care Plan meetings are organised by the Local Authority and are held at the school. Relevant educational, health and care professionals and parents/carers are invited to discuss the progress and needs of the child using a person-centred approach.
Parents are also invited to attend termly Parents Evening to discuss their child’s Individual Support Plan (ISP) achievements and aspirations for the future.
Ad hoc parental conversations and meetings are held to discuss issues and concerns.
We appreciate the efforts made by parents to attend planned reviews and consultations and the ongoing support they provide for their child’s education. Where parents find it difficult to attend meetings, staff will endeavour to consult with them to ensure their views are heard and considered.
Pastoral Care
Parents and Carers are able to contact our Pastoral Team Leader, Mrs. Nash, anytime during the school day, either by calling into the school or by telephone.
If further help is required, an appointment will be arranged with the appropriate person.
Depending on the circumstances it may also be possible to make an appointment to see Miss Northover, our School Counsellor (part-time).
Coffee afternoons are held once a term to provide further opportunities for parents/carers to engage with various staff and outside professionals on matters which concern them.
Some of the staff involved are Mrs. Nash (Home School Liaison) & Mr. Williams (e-Safety Lead).
Home, School & Pupil Agreement
In order to help every pupil experience that we are all “working together to enhance” their lives, it’s important that the school, parents/carers and pupils understand their responsibilities and work together. To achieve this we have a Home, School & Pupil Agreement.