The Boarding Parents’ Handbook
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Contents Welcome Before they start Once they have started Boarding at Junior King’s Who’s who in Boarding Useful phone numbers & email addresses The Boarding Day Return from Exeats & Half-Term Holidays Travel to & from School Guardians Communication - Who to contact - Routine information Keeping in touch with your child Keeping in touch with School life Boarding Parents’ Meetings Exeats and Half Term breaks Academic Information Meals, Snacks, Birthday Teas, Tuck & Pocket Money Village and City leave Discipline Boarding House Aims and Rules Clothing & Equipment Naming of clothes Electronic devices Toys & other equipment Posters, cushions & rugs Loss, damage Storage of belongings Health Care
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Welcome to the Junior King’s Family!
Boarding at Junior King’s is happy, positive and busy. Boarders learn to be part of a community that is caring, respectful and constructive and where they have fun together and learn to support one another. Boarding for the first time is a great adventure and opportunity, but sometimes both parents and children can take time to settle and adjust. During this period, homesickness is common, and mums and dads can also find themselves missing their children profoundly. This usually passes after a few weeks, as both parties adjust. Talk about this before term starts, and balance this with the benefits of and reasons for boarding. Our pastoral care is outstanding, and we work hard to look after and nurture all the children in our care throughout their time at Junior King’s. Here are a few tips which might help: Before they start: Before your child starts boarding make sure you have talked through with them why they are going to boarding school. Play down reasons that are to do with parental convenience and emphasise the positive. Please read the attached document from the Boarding School’s Association (BSA) regarding homesickness and in particular Paragraph 11, “Contact with Home.” Explain that homesickness is likely. Homesickness occurs at different stages, not necessarily over the first few days or even weeks. Reassure your child that most children settle very quickly and that it is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not tell your child they can leave if they are not happy (that is of course a right that you retain) as they are likely to bring this up the next time they are feeling unsettled! Make a plan with them before they start as to when they will next see you or another familiar adult. Stick to the plan and then get a diary and write it down for them as they can become confused with dates. Before your child’s first term, talk through and agree with them your plans for regular communication. Telephones can be difficult for both parties, especially at the start and are best avoided on a very regular basis. An agreed telephone or skype/ facetime call can work well every few days, or frequent e-mails. Remember that no news is usually good news! Let your child bring lots of teddies and soft toys, and help them to make a photo collage of favourite family members, friends and pets. Try not to do this at the last moment as it can cause a child to panic that time is running out. 5
Help your child to pack their suitcase. Ensure that their school uniform is packed and that they have their sports kit. All their items must be clearly named. Help your child to be independent. They should be able to put on and take off duvet covers for example. Teach your child about their basic personal hygiene needs. Ensure they can wash their hair and bodies, check their hair for head lice, and be able to trim their finger and toe nails. Say goodbyes promptly! Once the Head has spoken to parents on the first afternoon of term try to leave as swiftly as you can. Protracted departures can be very difficult for all parties. Please do not worry, the school will contact you within the first 48 hours and most children are absolutely fine.
Once they have started: Communicate with your children. Use e-mail, skype/FaceTime and the phone. Try to discourage children from ringing just before bedtime as it is often a time when they can feel wobbly! Write to them! Nothing is better than getting a regular letter or postcard from the family. It doesn’t need to be long, and it will mean so much. If you or your child is finding it difficult to talk to each other then send text messages to one another. Contact details. Please ensure that all children have important contact details saved on their phones. Don’t sit at home and worry… If in doubt, do ring the Houseparents to enquire. Try to avoid passing on your anxieties to your child! Remember that very often a child can be tearful on the phone and then running around full of laughter and vitality shortly afterwards. They have shed their worries but often leave a distraught parent at the other end of the phone. Do contact us if this helps. Your child will be given a ‘buddy’. This is usually someone from their form or year group who has been at the school for a while. They will ‘shadow’ a new child for their first week and help them to find their way around and to know what is expected. 6
Encourage your child to talk to us first. There is always someone around at school to whom your child can talk. It may be their Form Tutor, the House Staff, the Chaplain, the Nursing staff and Matrons, a member of the Assistant Tutor (AT) staff, a friend, or Head of Boarding. We are the people most likely to sort out little problems. It is very difficult for you to find lost games kit when you are on the other side of the world! Communicate with us. Tell us if there is a problem at home with a relative, friend or pet. Tell us if family circumstances change. We can’t help or make allowances if we don’t know. Try to abide by our rules or expectations. If the calendar states boarders should return between 7.00pm-8.00pm please endeavour to have them there by this time. Please pick the children up at the allotted time too. This is extremely important during exeats and the start of each term and avoids undue distress of your child. Remember, we are working together, and are part of the same team. I greatly look forward to welcoming you into our very special school and boarding community.
Emma Károlyi Head
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Boarding at Junior King’s Aims We aim to provide a modern boarding education of the highest quality, seeking to meet not only the academic needs of our pupils but also caring for their social, emotional, physical and spiritual development. Boarding at Junior King’s should offer a balanced education infused with values and warmth, security and a strong sense of community. Objectives To provide all boarders with a safe, supportive and comfortable environment in which to grow as members of a community. To help our boarders to: Be happy, safe and enjoy boarding at Junior King’s Respect the boarding houses and the people and property within it Be honest and trustworthy Make and sustain friendships Display good manners Care for each other Tolerate, accept and respect personal, religious and cultural differences Be proud of their ability to manage their day to day lives Be confident in their dealings with adults and each other To eat well, work hard and play hard To make the most of their time and opportunities in a calm, happy and purposeful working atmosphere Be responsible, resilient and reflective Make good choices and decisions in their day-to-day lives Gain a sense of independence Embrace a clearly defined and accepted code of conduct for everyone in the boarding community Uphold and contribute positively towards the boarding community To live by the “Golden Rules” developed by the whole school. 9
Who’s who in Boarding The Head
Mrs Emma Károlyi
Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Head of Boarding
Mrs Liz Hutchings Mr Ed Stevenson Ms Kerri North
Kipling Houseparents Juckes Houseparents
Mrs Nancy Tugwell Mr Rob Tugwell
Non-Resident Tutors (Teaching)
Mr Rob Stonier (Deputy Head- Academic) Mr Christopher Lapthorn (Head of Science & Senior Teacher Curriculum) Mrs Gaynor Marais (Year 4 teacher) Ms Patricia Ovejero Martin (Spanish Teacher) Mr Kyle Smith (Year 5 teacher)
Chaplain
Mr Rob Tugwell (Chaplain)
Matrons
Mrs Julie Brown (Senior Matron) Mrs Anne-Marie Lafferty Mrs Victoria Powell – Resident Matron, Juckes House Mrs Trudi Dearberg Miss Chloe Janes Mrs Joanne Ward
Assistant Tutors (until July 2019)
Mr Juan Fer Castro Mr Thomas Dath Mr Sam Poole Mr Izaak Tanna Miss Maria Golmayo Miss Laura Watson
Other
Ms Rosie O’Neill (Trainee Teacher) Miss Olivia Richards (Trainee Teacher)
Medical Team
Mrs Alex Hampson (Sister in Charge) Miss Carole Adams Mrs Angela Adams Mrs Sharon Tulloch-Mayall
Child Protection Officer
Mrs Liz Hutchings
School Doctor
Dr Tina Crook
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Useful Phone Numbers Out of hours contact number
07730 300467
Kipling Houseparents (Ed Stevenson & Kerri North)
01227 714555
Juckes Houseparents (Rob & Nancy Tugwell)
01227 712849
Juckes House Staff
01227 714028
Medical Centre
01227 714022
Matrons
01227 714021
School Office
01227 714000
Deputy Head - Pastoral and Head of Boarding: Liz Hutchings
01227 714035
Deputy Head -Academic: Rob Stonier
01227 714009
Useful Email Addresses Deputy Head (Pastoral ) & Head of Boarding
lhutchings@junior-kings.co.uk
Kipling Houseparents
estevenson@junior-kings.co.uk
Juckes Houseparents
ntugwell@junior-kings.co.uk
Health Centre
health@junior-kings.co.uk
School Office
office@junior-kings.co.uk
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The Boarding Day
Please visit the following link to get an idea of what a typical day is for a boarder at JKS. https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/about/boarding/
Return from Exeat Weekends and Half-Term Holidays
Full boarders should return from exeat weekends and half-term holidays no earlier than 19:00 but may return later, although no later than half an hour before their bedtime. If your child needs to arrive back to school after their usual bedtime or even the following day, please inform the Houseparents. A snack will be provided in the Houses, but please note that there is no meal on these days. Weekly boarders may keep to their normal arrangements but should keep the Houseparents informed of any changes.
Travel to and from School
Please note that all arrangements should be made by parents and that information should be given to House Staff as far in advance of all holidays and exeats as is possible. Within the UK Please tell the Houseparents what your intentions are for arrival at the start of term and for departure at the end of term, especially if you are not delivering or collecting personally or at the normal times. Arrangements for travel to London at half-term holidays can be made using a local taxi firm. Overseas Travel All passports and tickets should be handed into the Houseparents at the start of term, after half-term holidays and exeat weekends. Arrangements for travel to an airport can be made by Elizabeth Jerman in the front office using a local taxi firm, Longleys (01227 710777), and children are expected to carry their mobile phone when travelling independently. Exeat Weekend Travel Please make all arrangements for travel at exeat weekends directly with Elizabeth Jerman in the front office. A letter is emailed out in advance, asking you to confirm arrangements by a specified date. There is an escorted train service to London St Pancras on the Friday evening and returning on the Sunday evening.
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Guardians
The Junior King’s School requires parents who are resident abroad to provide the name, email address, address and telephone number of a person authorised to act as guardian for their child. Guardians would normally live within a one to two hour drive of the school and should be reasonably fit and healthy. It should be noted that parents and not the School are responsible for the welfare of their children while staying with the nominated guardians. It is absolutely vital that the person named as a guardian is both accessible throughout the term and has the authority to take full responsibility for the pupil in the Parents’ absence. We recommend that this person is over 25 years of age, is resident in the UK, and is not a student living in accommodation provided by another educational institution. Guardians must be able to take responsibility for the pupil: •
at the start and end of terms by transporting to and from the airport, and if travel arrangements do not coincide with beginning/end of term dates to provide stopover care
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during half-term holidays if the pupil is not returning home
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on exeat weekends
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in the event that the pupil has been asked to leave the school during term time for disciplinary reasons
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in the event of an illness when it is not possible for pupils to remain at school
Guardians are also encouraged to: •
Maintain regular contact with the pupil’s Houseparents
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Take an interest in the academic progress and well-being of the pupil
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Attend parents’ meetings and school functions and events on behalf of the parents 14
The school is unable to provide guardians for new pupils, but can provide prospective parents with a list of Guardianship Agencies on request. The school is not able to recommend a particular agency, nor does it take responsibility for the welfare of pupils while staying with a guardian organised by the agency. It is requested that the named guardian visit the school to meet the Houseparents before the end of that pupil’s first term at Junior King’s. If the guardian is out of the country during term time, then the guardian will need to inform the Houseparents of who to contact should the need arise. New pupils will be sent a form, which must be completed, signed by both the parents and the guardians and then returned to the School Office by the first day the child joins us.
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Communication Who to Contact What do you do if there is something on the boarding side of the school that you would like to talk about? The first point of contact is always your child’s Houseparents. The Head of Boarding or the Head are available for major concerns or worries or requests for absences, and the School Nurses may be contacted if there are specific medical concerns. Routine Information Most of the routine information will be sent by e-mail. It would be helpful if you could ensure that we have details of current e-mail addresses and please keep us updated with any changes. Keeping in touch with your child These days, there are many ways in which we can keep in touch with each other. 1. By telephone The first points of call are the duty staff who can be reached during the evenings or weekends on 07730 300467. In addition, the private numbers of the Houseparents are printed overleaf. Please phone before 10.00pm (UK time) unless there is an emergency. 2. By e-mail E-mail facilities are available to the pupils, and can be used throughout the week. All boarders will be given an e-mail address as soon as we have received the completed ICT pupil/school agreement. 3. By Skype or Facetime Boarders are able to contact their parents through Skype/Facetime either via their personal tablet or using their personal school account on a school computer. Mobile phones and electronic devices such as tablets are allowed for use within the boarding houses in order to ease communication with home. They are allowed under strict conditions and with the understanding that any abuse of their use could lead to their withdrawal by the Houseparents. Mobile phones and electronic devices are not essential, must be clearly labelled and must be handed in to the Houseparents on arrival back at school. The children may collect their phones from the House Staff on duty in the boarding houses after they have showered and are ready for bed. Mobile phones should be returned before quiet reading. Children whose parents live overseas in Eastern Time zones may call home between 12.30pm and 1.00pm (UK time) to avoid parents being contacted very late at night. 16
Keeping in Touch with School Life The main Parents’ Handbook outlines details of the school website (www.juniorkings.co.uk), which is an invaluable source of information for boarding parents. Boarding Parents’ Meetings Special meeting dates are set every term for parents of boarders, designed to coincide with a natural drop-off time. This provides parents with the opportunity to talk personally to all the staff who teach their child. The dates are in the termly calendar. Boarding parents’ meetings are held on the Friday evening between 4.00pm and 6.00pm at the beginning of each half-term holiday.
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Exeats and Half Term Breaks
Term times, half term holidays and exeats are published on the school website and the termly calendar. https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/whats-on/term-dates/
Academic Information
Academic information can be accessed on our website on the following link. https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/academic/
Meals, Snacks, Birthday Teas, Tuck and Pocket Money
Boarders have breakfast, lunch and tea in the Dining Room each day. Fresh fruit is always available at all meals. There is a choice of food at each meal, and vegetarian and special diets are catered for. All boarders have a drink and a snack before bedtime and more senior boarders are able to use the kitchen facilities in their respective common rooms. Boarders’ Tuck Shop The house staff run a tuck shop on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, when the children may spend a limited sum of their pocket money on sweets, chocolate bars, crisps and drinks. Healthy tuck options are also available. Tuck from Home Please do not send in any food or tuck from home. It is not necessary, creates inequalities and unbalances a carefully planned diet. If there are special circumstances, please contact the Houseparents and talk them over with them. We would kindly ask for your co-operation with this. Pocket Money Boarders need pocket money for the tuck shop and excursions. Approximately £60 per term is recommended for full boarders. Cash must please be handed to the House Parents in a named envelope at the start of each term. Boarders will be informed of a regular weekly time when they will have access to the house bank. Boarders in Years 4-7 are not allowed to have money in their own possession and must bank it with house staff. Please note that bank cards are not permitted. The school will not be held liable for any money not banked with House Staff. Year 8 boarders are given an allowance after each exeat in order for them to begin to budget and plan their spending. 18
City Leave A major privilege of being a Year 8 boarder is City Leave. On certain Sundays, boarders in Year 8 are given the option to take City Leave during which time they are allowed to travel into Canterbury by train with their fellow Year 8 boarders. We insist that Year 8 boarders take City Leave in groups of at least three. In addition, we also insist that they carry a mobile phone. Village leave The Year 8 pupils are allowed to visit the local Co-Op which is a short walk from the school. It provides them with an opportunity to purchase items and manage their allowance. We feel that it is an important part of being in Year 8. The pupils are accompanied by a member of staff.
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Discipline
We aim to create a happy, positive atmosphere in the boarding community, where children are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and one another. The emphasis is one of encouragement and reward. During boarding time, “school” punishments will not be applied. Boarders will be rewarded with ‘stars’ for positive behaviour and receive sanctions for minor misdemeanours. At the end of term each boarder who reaches the set target for ‘stars’ will be given a treat. A visit to McDonalds, Kaspars’, a Chinese takeaway, a laser trip or a visit to the cinema are all examples. House staff will use their discretion to apply “home-style” sanctions to children if appropriate, and continuing or serious problems will, of course, be discussed with parents.
Boarding House Aims and Rules
Please follow the link below to see the Boarding House aims and rules: https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/about/boarding/
Clothing and Equipment
We request that all parents ensure that all possessions are clearly named. The School Shop offers a name-tape sewing service for any new items purchased there. The matrons’ department may be able to organise the naming of any further items of clothing by request, for which an additional charge is made. The staff team looks after the washing and maintenance of clothing and bedding. There is a fixed routine for laundry to ensure that the children’s clothes are kept clean. Please note that the children only have two drawers and some hanging space to store their clothes.
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Naming of School Uniform and Home Clothes In order to reduce the amount of lost property we kindly request that all clothes (home clothes and uniform) and shoes, bags and cases are all clearly named. The School Shop has details of sewn-in name tapes and shoe labels. We advise that name tapes are positioned as follows: Trousers
back of waistband
Shirts/blouses
back of collar
Underpants
back of waistband
Socks
inside and vertically from elasticated top of neck
Tights
waistband
Sweaters
back of neck
Towels
LARGE name tape along long edge, in the middle, with the loop positioned centrally for hanging
Duvet covers, pillow cases
LARGE sized labels to be used
Blazers/coats
back of collar
Pyjamas
top: back of collar trousers: back of waistband
Sun hats
inside the rim at the back
Labels
60 small spare name labels for school uniform and home clothes 6 large spare name labels for sports kit Further name tapes may also be ordered by the Matrons as required, and the amount, as well as a ‘sewing fee’ added to the extras bill
Games clothes should be labelled on the outside with extra wide labels. Further details are contained in the New Parents’ Handbook.
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Phones
Mobile phones are an essential element of life these days. Boarders may bring their phones to the boarding house as they are an important means of communication. Phones are collected in each evening and locked away in the Houseparents’ office. The use of phones is limited so that boarders do not spend each and every evening playing games etc, with them. It is important for the boarding community that we monitor the use of the phones. We do have times in the week when we have “screen free� time. All boarders sign a mobile phone contract that stipulates what the phone may be used for. If boarders do not follow the guidelines then they may have their phones confiscated for up to a week.
Electronic Devices (Tablets/Kindles)
Boarders may bring clearly named, age-appropriate electronic devices but these need to be stored in a safe place (i.e. their lockable locker) and are only to be used according to the timetable. If, within these restrictions, a child seems to be spending too much time playing electronic games, the permitted use will be further restricted. Boarders are able to access computers within the boarding house to send and receive e-mails, for work and for playing games. Any electrical device that connects to the internet is not allowed in dormitories overnight. Parents should ensure that children do not have unrestricted/ unfiltered access to the internet on any electrical devices, and that any downloads are age-appropriate.
Skateboards, Roller blades, etc.
Unfortunately these are not allowed as there is no suitable area for their use.
Toys and Other Equipment
Children are welcome to bring back inexpensive, durable toys and recreational equipment. Simple audio equipment may also be brought to school so long as it is named, kept within the house and used in a reasonable way! Hairdryers are also permitted for use within the house but please note that all electrical equipment will be checked for safety by the school electricians before a child is able to use it.
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Posters, Cushions and Rugs
Children are encouraged to bring small posters and pictures in order to personalise their bed space and dormitory. These should be displayed on the pin-boards which are provided in each dormitory. Cushions and rugs will also help to make their areas more homely but must comply with current fire regulations.
Loss and Damage
Whilst we make every effort to protect the children’s belongings, the school cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged valuables. Please ensure that valuables are covered by your own domestic insurance arrangements – musical instruments, tablets, mobile phones and iPods all come in this category. 24
Storage of Belongings
Storage space is very limited and all suitcases and belongings should be taken home or to guardians, wherever possible, at the end of each term. This enables us to clean through the boarding houses regularly and also helps to prevent the unnecessary or excessive accumulation of toys, personal possessions and outgrown clothes! At the ends of terms we aim to send most clothes home clean, although this is not always possible for games kit in particular. Towels and bedding will be stored at school along with one set of school uniform. During the summer holiday we advise that all suitcases and belongings, including those of overseas boarders, are taken home or to guardians in order for a full sortout of clothes and possessions to be made. 25
Health Care
Please ensure that the School’s medical health record, consent form, NHS card and emergency consent form are sent to school before the beginning of your child’s first term. The School Doctor The school doctor is unable to see or prescribe medications for your child without the documents being signed. The nurse also will be unable to dispense any medications without this documentation completed. The school doctor has a clinic on a weekly basis on Thursday of each week where any non-urgent medical concerns are addressed. Any treatment or referral will be communicated to the parent(s). All new boarders are given a medical examination by the school nurses shortly after joining us. The school nurses follow UK Regulations, Protocols and Guidelines for administration of medicine and the care and referral of sick children. Please be aware this may be different from your experiences outside the UK. The Health Centre The Health Centre is available to all pupils Monday to Friday 8.00am-9.00pm and Saturday 8.00am-4:30pm where a Registered Nurse is on duty. Out of these hours, boarding pupils have access to matrons who can dispense medicines as prescribed or over the counter medicines as required. If you child is unwell he/she will be admitted to the Health Centre where they can be cared for. Pupils that have highly contagious illnesses e.g. chicken pox, diarrhoea and vomiting if possible will be requested to go home or go to their appointed guardian. If your child requires medical intervention in an emergency or out of hours, this will be facilitated by the nurse on duty. Outside the hours where the nurse is available medical advice will be sought via the out of hours GP service. School Counsellor We have a School counsellor who visits the school once a week to see children who have been identified as needing support of an emotional nature. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy with over 20 years’ experience. If you have any concerns about your child, you can contact the Medical Centre, speak to your child’s Houseparent or the Deputy Head Pastoral/Head of Boarding.
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