There are four connected phases of education at Kelvin Grove:

The Early Years Foundation Stage – Nursery and reception classes (ages 3 to 5)

Key stage 1 – years 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 7)

Lower key stage 2 – years 3 and 4 (ages 7 to 9)

Upper key stage 2 – years 5 and 6 (ages 9 to 11)

Each year group has up to 90 children in three mixed ability classes. One class teacher has responsibility for the class, supported by other teachers and teaching assistants. The school day from children in reception to Year 6 is 32.5 hours.

The School Day

Year group	Start time:	End time:	Gate
Nursery	8:45pm (Full time) 8:45am (Part time AM) 12:30pm (Part time PM)	3:30pm (Full time) 11:45am (Part time AM) 3:30pm (Part time PM)	Nursery
Reception	8:45am	3:15pm	Offsite Reception for Orchid and Magenta   Top gate on Kelvin Grove for Cerise (onsite Reception playground)
Year 1	8:45am	3:15pm	Main playground
Year 2	8:45am	3:15pm	Year 2 gate on Dallas Road
Year 3	8:45am	3:15pm	Main playground
Year 4	8:45am	3:15pm	Main playground
Year 5	8:45am	3:15pm	Paxton gate
Year 6	8:45am	3:15pm	Paxton gate

Kelvin Grove has a school travel plan, approved by TfL, which reflects our commitment to promoting healthy and sustainable transport options and to reduce the number of cars on the roads at peak times. We encourage as many families as possible to walk to school, as well as encouraging parents and carers to seek alternatives to using the car. Please ask at the office for advice regarding public transport routes to and from school, particularly local buses and trains.

It is important that all children come to school in full school uniform. 

Kelvin Grove School Uniform is as follows:

• black school shoes;
• white shirts or polo shirts (with KG logo);
• red sweatshirts / cardigans / fleeces (with KG logo);
• dark grey trousers (shorts in the summer);
• dark grey dresses, trousers or skirts (red / white gingham dresses in summer);
• red / black / grey tights;
• red caps in summer/woollen hats in winter
• KG school book bag

Kelvin Grove School PE Kit is as follows:

• white t-shirt with KG logo (black or grey sweatshirts in the winter)
• black shorts (black track suit bottoms in the winter)
• black plimsolls or trainers
• KG PE bag

The school recognises that non-branded items are cheaper and so the KG logo is not a statutory requirement.

The school expects children to wear their hair in a smart fashion and reserves the right to tie back long hair if there were to be a risk.

If you would like to purchase school uniform, you can buy it online (for delivery) or in person from:

WEARABOUTS SCHOOLWEAR

• 99 Sydenham Road,  London SE26 5UA
• info@wearaboutsschoolwear.co.uk
• 020 8659 9917

Our PTA also run an up-cycled school uniform shop:

‘We have a bank of second hand (washed) school uniform. Please use the form below to let us know if you would like any items, noting how many and your child’s age. Simone Daniels from the PTA will get back to you, letting you know if the items are available and where to collect them from.  The uniform is free, unless you want to make a donation.’

Parents/carers can choose from two options; school dinners or a packed lunch sent from home. Meal options can be changed half termly and we require that your child has the same option each day for the half term. If you wish to change your child’s meal option for the next half term, you can let us know by completing the online ‘pupil meal choices‘ from via the link below.

School meals are cooked on the premises and our chef ensures that all meals are healthy and tasty, in line with government guidelines. Meals must be paid for in advance and online using SIMS PAY 360 following the instructions on our SIMS PAY 360 page (CLICK HERE), the latest school meal prices are displayed below. If your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2 school meals will be funded by the government. Parents/carers are able to view their dinner money balances through our SIMS PAY system:

If you prefer that your child has a packed lunch sent from home, please remember that sweets, chocolate and sugary drinks should not be included and only water should be given. We are a ‘Healthy Eating School’ and packed lunches should reflect this.  Please download our pack lunch ideas sheet below.

• School dinner per day: £2.30 (£2.50 from April 2023)
• School dinners per week: £11.50 (£12.50 from April 2023)
• Nursery dinner per day: £3.20 (£3.30 from April 2023)
• Nursery dinners per week: £16 (£16.50 from April 2023)
• Nursery packed lunch is charged at 90 pence per day – outside of your child’s 30 hour free entitlement
• Nursery packed lunch is charged at £4.50 per week – outside of your child’s 30 hour free entitlement

PLEASE NOTE: Even if you send a packed lunch or you do not need to pay for lunches (R, Y1 & Y2) and your combined annual household income is below £16,190, your child may qualify for ‘free school meals’. As well as free school meals for your child, the school is given extra funding to support your child’s learning. We kindly ask that all families who may be entitled, apply for free school meals to help further support your child.

To apply online simply visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

To create an account you will need the following information:

• Your full name as registered with HMRC
• Your full address as registered with HMRC
• Your contact details i.e. your e-mail and/or telephone

Homework is set appropriate to the age of the children. Teachers will lay out their expectations in a newsletter at the start of the school year.

Children spend considerably more time at home than they do at school, so it is important that learning continues away from school.

These are just a few of the ways you and your family can support your child at home:

• read every night with / to your child to develop a love of books;
• model good practice – let them see you enjoying books, using the computer or writing letters;
• help them to research on the internet to support school topics;
• take them out to interesting places;
• play educational games with them;
• talk, listen and answer questions;
• help them with their home learning.

“Every child has the right to learn and every teacher has the right to teach, in a safe, caring and structured environment.”

At Kelvin Grove, we work as a team to follow a common framework. Through the example of the adults who care for them at school, through well planned and stimulating learning opportunities, we believe that children will accept learning challenges and develop self discipline.

Good behaviour is an essential condition for effective teaching and learning to take place, therefore good behaviour must be carefully developed and supported. Teaching behaviour at Kelvin Grove is approached in just the same way as any other curriculum activity, taking into account the learning needs of all pupils.

We believe high self-esteem promotes good behaviour, effective learning and positive relationships so we emphasise potential, reward success and give praise for effort and achievement.

“It involves everybody’s behaviour to everybody.”

GOOD BEHAVIOUR MEANS THAT EVERYONE IN SCHOOL IS:

• polite and friendly;
• helpful and kind;
• respectful and tolerant;
• careful and considerate;
• quiet and hard-working.

It is the responsibility of parents to co-operate and support the school in helping their children to behave well.

It is vital that we have the correct information for your child/children. You can update your child’s record via the following link:

For detailed instructions, read more here: SIMS PARENT

Pupil sickness absence

If you child is unwell and unable to come to school, please contact the school office as soon as possible on the morning of absence.

You can contact the school office via telephone, or through the form below:

Exceptional absence from school

Under education law, parents may no longer request absence for pupils from school due to a family holiday. It is for schools to determine whether or not they agree to absence for special circumstances during term time. Any holidays taken during term time will be recorded as unauthorised which will impact on children’s attendance data.

It is important that parents carefully consider the implications of taking their child out of school during term time, without authorisation.

Research suggests that children who are taken out of school may never catch up on work they have missed. This may affect results and can be particularly harmful if the child is studying for SATs.

Medicine in School

Children with medical needs have the same rights of admission to a school or setting as other children. Most children will at some time have short-term medical needs, perhaps finishing a course of medicine such as antibiotics. Some children however have longer term medical needs and may require medicines on a long-term basis to keep them well, for example children who may require ashtma pumps or epi-pens.

Where possible we prefer that children are given medication before and after school by their parents – where this is not possible we need you to give the school details of the child’s condition and the medicine they require – we also need your permission to administer the medication. Please complete the form below:

If your child is returning to school following an injury or illness which could impact on their time at school, we will complete a risk assessment before their return. Please complete the first section of the form below and a member of staff at school will arrange a time to meet with you and your child.

At Kelvin Grove school photographs are taken twice per year. In the Autumn term our school photographer takes individual photos of our children and in the Spring term class photos are taken.

Our school photographs are taken by a local school photography company called Videotapas. Depending on the weather conditions on the day of the shoot, they will either take your child’s photographs indoors or outdoors. Please note: You will not receive an online purchase code on the day of the shoot.

Once your child’s photographs have been taken they will then be carefully edited and enhanced. This process takes around 7-10 working days. A photo proof card will then be printed for every child and these will be sent home.

Once you receive your child’s photo proof card you can go online to view and/or purchase your child’s photos. Simply visit www.videotapas.com and login using the unique login code shown on your photo proof card to view and purchase your child’s images. You will be able to choose between free batch delivery to the school, or you can opt for a speedy ‘direct-to-home’ delivery service. 

We aim to give parents and carers as much information as possible about the school and your child’s progress.

We do this through:

– Regularly updating the school website (www.kelvingrove.lewisham.sch.uk), which contains information on latest news, dates, letters and curriculum information;

– Newsletters giving important information and details of events and activities are sent out every two weeks;

– Social media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) detailing children’s learning;

– Teachers’ letters giving class topics and homework information;

– Our texting service – sending regular messages to your mobile phone;

– The planner, provided for all children, gives key dates and events and can be used as a simple communication diary between home and school;

– Parents evenings – one informal meeting at the start of the year and formal meetings in November and July. An end of year report is written in July, summarising your child’s progress during the year;

– Informal meetings with your child’s teacher at the start or end of the day;

– Informal meetings with the Headteacher or Deputy Headteachers in the playground before school

– Awards assemblies – Friday

– Parent representatives and family learning classes.

Answering your concerns

It is important to answer any problems and concerns as quickly as possible. Normally, this will be done by talking to your child’s teacher or teaching assistant. Sometimes you will need to speak to one of the senior managers.

This can be done by calling into the office before school or by telephoning to make an appointment. We aim to resolve matters quickly and efficiently. If this does not happen to your satisfaction you may wish to make a complaint. The school’s procedure can be collected from the office.