Useful information
Our five school rules are colour-coded to help children remember them.
DO BEHAVE AND WORK WELL
We behave in a way which allows everyone
to work and play in harmony.
DO BE RESPECTFUL AND POLITE
We talk and behave in a polite and
respectful manner.
DO LISTEN AND ACT SENSIBLY
We listen carefully and carry out
instructions sensibly.
DO MOVE AROUND CAREFULLY
We move quietly and sensibly
around the school.
DO LOOK AFTER PROPERTY
We take care of our school and personal
property, work and displays.
We use many positive methods of promoting good behaviour such as 'Thank You' certificates and 'Achievement' awards
At Dulwich Hamlet Junior School, we are proud of our attendance record, which is well above the national average.
We monitor attendance and require clear and specific reasons for absence. Absence affects children's work, so requests for leave must be made to the Headteacher. Leave taken without permission is recorded as unauthorised.
We believe our uniform gives a sense of belonging and community identity. It also suggests equality and avoids pre-teen fashion angst. Children at the Hamlet wear a uniform of the school sweatshirt, together with the school polo shirt or T-shirt, in either jade or navy blue. Navy blue trousers, skirts or shorts are also worn. Shoes must be appropriate, black or dark blue (no trainers or open-toe sandals). For PE, a white school T-shirt and blue shorts for the summer, or long sweat-pants for the winter are worn, together with plimsolls or trainers. Jewellery is not allowed.
The PTA organizes the sale of uniforms. You can order items by completing a uniform order form and putting it in the PTA post box in the school office. The PTA also sell uniforms from the PTA 'Shed' close to the Turney Road entrance on Friday mornings.
Contract caterers, who prepare fresh food on site in our kitchens, provide school lunches. They offer a choice of main course, including a vegetarian dish. Salads, puddings and fresh fruit are served every day, and water is provided with meals. We also now offer a slelction of sandwiches at the counter, which children can mix and match with other food choices. Provision can be made for children with allergies or religious considerations. Children may also bring in their own packed lunch. All packed lunches may be eaten at picnic tables in the playground or in the dining hall.
Homework
Children are expected to complete some work at home. At the beginning of term, the year group teachers give parents an outline of work to be completed by children at home and parents may be asked to help children with some tasks. Regular reading is assigned and children learn spellings and tables for weekly tests.
Children in Year 6 may have work that will focus on their tests and secondary transfer.
Children with Special Educational Needs may have homework linked to their Individual Educational Plan targets.
There is an expectation that homework will be completed on time but if there is a problem, parents are asked to contact the class teacher.
The school begins to prepare the children for secondary transfer in year 6 when they are divided into separate groups appropriate for their learning ability for maths, literacy and science. The children, not the staff, have to move around the school to locate their particular class. This gives the children an idea of life at secondary school when they take on the full responsibility of being in the right place at the right time for every lesson.
Year 6 parents are invited to a meeting in the autumn term to talk about transferring to secondary school. Written information about transfer procedures will be provided. We do not recommend particular schools, but we provide parents with a list of secondary schools that Dulwich Hamlet children have selected in the previous academic year. Parents are strongly advised to view all the schools they think their child might attend.
Dulwich Hamlet works hard to obtain and maximise the funding it receives from the local education authority. However, this only covers the basic requirements of running the school.
The school governors, therefore, request a suggested donation of £15 per child, per term. This covers the cost of school trips and activities that support and enhance classroom learning – that means entrance fees to museums, galleries, gardens and zoos and the cost of the coach trip. It also pays for activities within school, such as visiting theatre groups, dancers and science workshops.
The school also charges for instrumental music lessons (the prices of which are considerably cheaper than external lessons), French Club and Year 5 and 6 residential trips. Such expenses are subsidised where necessary. Occasionally parents are asked to pay for materials used in cooking or design technology.
We have a duty of care for the children while at school. In the event that a child becomes unwell we have a quiet area where he or she can rest and be assessed. A note will be sent home to inform the parent of any incident but we will always contact a child's parents or carer in the event of an emergency or progression of illness. Our support staff are trained in first-aid. The school has a well established policy on medication, which is available from the school office.
There are two main school playgrounds, 'Village' and 'Turney' and one smaller playground, 'Little Turney'. We have a new adventure trail, virtual pond area, maze seating, Buddy Bus Stops, and numerous seating areas, as well as a giant chessboard and other colourful markings. At the discretion of the Headteacher or Senior Midday Supervisor, children may bring lightweight balls to play with, or choose from the store of many games including hoops, skipping ropes and giant chess pieces. During the year we have seasons for particular games, like marbles, yo-yos and jacks.
Under the 1996 Education Act, governors and headteachers are required to forbid partisan political activities by junior pupils, and the promotion of partisan views in the school. They must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a balanced view of political issues is presented in school and in extra-curricular activities.
If parents have complaints, they are asked to try to resolve the issue with the class teacher in the first instance. If this proves unsatisfactory, the next step is to talk to the Headteacher, then finally put the complaint in writing to the Headteacher. The letter will be acknowledged promptly, and the Headteacher, who will keep all parties fully informed, will investigate the matter. If this proves unsatisfactory, a formal written complaint may be made asking for the complaint to be heard by the Governing Body. The clerk will set up a complaints panel, to which the parents are invited. Full information on the complaints procedure may be obtained from the Headteacher.