A Partnership Between Home and School
At St. Joseph's Camberwell Catholic Schools' Federation we aim to form strong partnerships with parents, the parish and wider community that will help your children to get the most out of life, now and in the future. We recognise that parents are the first educators of their children and as such your encouragement and interest in your child's school life is vital to their progress.
Your role involves supporting learning through effective communication with the school, daily reading, trips to the park or the library and then regular support with spelling, counting and homework as children get older.
You are always welcome to visit the school but since schools can attract unwelcome visitors, it is essential that you call at the school office first.
We encourage regular communication between home, school and parish. Letters, information and newsletters are sent to parents via email, informing them of school activities, policies and procedures. Key policies and school information including end of Key Stage reporting are available on the school website.
Parents need to ensure that children come to school on time every day, apart from when they are unwell. Absence and lateness are disruptive to your child and others in their class and will affect your child's level of achievement.
We welcome parents at class assemblies, particularly those at which their children are involved.
At St. Joseph's we will make every effort to ensure that school is a welcoming and stimulating environment in which all children can learn and parents feel included.
We teach a broad and balanced curriculum, which is enriched by visits to places of interest and visiting experts.
Your child's progress will be monitored, assessed and reported to parents each term at parent/teacher consultations, with a written report at the end of each school year.
Children will be respected as individuals and helped to achieve their potential. St Joseph's recognises all races, cultures and religions and aims to empower children to feel secure in their own background and to respect each other.
Staff and parents at St Joseph's have great respect for each other and are willing to discuss any issue, with a view to resolving it. If you have any concerns or worries about any aspect of your child's education do not hesitate to get in touch with your child's class teacher.
If you continue to have concerns you can contact a member of the Core Leadership Team, Head of School or Executive Headteacher. We usually resolve difficulties through informal meetings but, if necessary, there are formal complaint procedures available.
Parents Meetings
We like to meet parents regularly to discuss your child's progress. Parent-Teacher meetings are held every term. Children's work is shared and their progress is discussed. These meetings are necessarily brief so if you wish to have a long discussion, please arrange to come and see the teacher at another time. Wherever possible appointments for meetings with your child's teacher will be made at a time to suit you.
Again, the best time to have a meaningful discussion would be after 3:30pm when we are available to devote more time to you.
School Uniform
We are very proud of our school uniform and we expect all children to uphold the school policy.
St Joseph's School Uniform
The school aims to foster and deepen the children’s faith through a genuine partnership between the home, school and parish. Only through this can we hope to:
- Help children develop a sense of self-worth and promote a spirit of respect for others.
- Strive to maintain the highest possible standards of behaviour and help all children to achieve their full potential
It is our school policy that all children wear school uniform when attending school, representing the school, or when participating in a school-organised event outside normal school hours.
Aims and objectives
Our policy on uniform is based on the notion that school uniform:
- Promotes a sense of pride in the school;
- Engenders a sense of community and belonging towards the school;
- Is practical and smart;
- Identifies the children with the school;
- Prevents children from coming to school in fashion clothes that could be distracting in class;
- Makes children feel equal to their peers in terms of appearance;
- Is regarded as suitable wear for school and good value for money by most parents;
- Is designed with health and safety in mind.
St Joseph's Catholic Infants' School Uniform (Reception to Year 2)
BOYS GIRLS BOYS AND GIRLS
Dark grey tailored trousers Dark grey pinafore dress of skirt Navy blue V-neck or round neck jumper
Dark grey shorts (summer term) Royal Blue and white stripe Light Blue short sleeved polo shirt with
Summer dress (summer term) school logo
Dark grey socks Plain white or dark grey socks School cap with logo
or tights
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School Uniform (Year 3 to Year 6)
Footwear
Shoes should be plain and black (without lights) and for health and safety reasons should have flat low heels. Trainers, boots and other leisure footwear, including sling back sandals are not allowed.
During snow conditions children may wear boots to and from school but will be expected to change to uniform school shoes during classes.
PE Clothing
Children wear the following for PE: Black plimsolls
Plain white T-shirt
Navy drawstring shorts
Plain navy tracksuit bottoms for outdoors (No logos)
Sports trainers for outdoor PE only.
During the winter months, children may wear plain navy, tracksuit bottoms for PE (No logos).
Pupils in Year 2 and KS2 may wear trainers for PE and outdoor activities – but these should be plain.
PE kit should be in school every day and kept in a drawstring PE bag which MUST be purchased from the school uniform shop with the school logo on it. Storage space is limited in cloakrooms.
PE kit should be worn for Extended School Activities involving sport or dance unless a special outfit is required and agreed with the school.
SCHOOL BAGS
It is compulsory to have the correct bag in accordance with the uniform policy as specified below, all of which can be purchased from the school uniform shop.
The majority of the uniform can be purchased from the online shop at www.stitchdesign.co.uk
School Dinners
St. Joseph's school dinners are all cooked fresh, on site, by Caterlink. We provide healthy and tasty meals for everyone.
School meals for Reception to Year 2 children are currently free as part of the Government initiative to provide all school children with a healthy meal. In addition to this Southwark have extended this to all pupils from Year 3 to Year 6.
FREE SCHOOL MEAL APPLICATION
Children whose parents receive the following may be entitled to free school meals:
- Income support
- Universal Credit
- Income based jobseeker's allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child tax credit and have income not exceeding £16,190 (if you receive working tax credit as well as child tax credit you will not be entitled )
- The guarantee element of state pension credit
An application form is available from the school office or application can be made online.
