1. First Day of Term
School begins with First Bell at 8.45am. On the first day of a new academic year the children should be sent to their new class teachers in the lower playground.  The teachers will be standing with a class flag so everyone knows where to go.  The Pre-Kindergarten teachers will come to the double atrium doors (also with a flag) and will welcome children into Pre-Kindergarten from there.

Thereafter when the first bell goes at 8.45 a.m., the children line up in the playground according to their classes until sent into their classrooms by the teacher on duty. The second bell goes at 9.00 am when the school goes over to assembly in the school gym. During the first term Kindergarten as well as Pre-Kindergarten pupils are taken directly to their classrooms by parents. From the first day back in the spring term however Kindergarten normally line up with the rest of the school.

2. School Hours
 
Pre-Kindergarten  8.45am to 12.05pm 

Main School
 
Monday - Friday  8.45am to 3.30pm  
 

There is a 'break' of 30 minutes at 10.30am. Milk and biscuits are supplied at this time.

Lunches are served to the main school in two sittings, at 12.00 and 12.30pm

At the end of the school day

Pre-Kindergarten finishes at 12.05pm. Parents wait in the atrium.
Main School: The bell rings at the end of the school day (3.30 p.m. Monday to Friday).
Children are then released into their parents' care from the atrium for Kindergarten, Year 1 and the playground for Year 2.
Years 3-6 leave from the classroom to find their parents in the playground. 

3. Holidays
Please adhere to the holiday dates, as it is very disruptive to your children's schooling to miss lessons at the beginning or end of term.

2009-2010

Autumn Term  Thursday 3rd September 2009 - Friday 11th December 2009
Half Term 26th  - 30th October 2009

Spring Term Tuesday, 5th January 2010 - Wednesday, 31st March 2010
Half Term 15th  - 21st February 2010

Lessons are planned to cover the full academic terms and any absence at the beginning and end of year means that your child may miss new material.

All absences must be notified in writing, it is a legal requirement for schools to take the register twice a day and to know where pupils are at any given time. 

4. School Fees
Fees are payable on or before the first day of each term. Cheques should be made out to 'Broomfield House School'. Fees may also be paid by direct bank transfer.  The school bank account details are on each term's invoice.

The School Office issues an individual invoice at the end of each term. This is usually sent home via pupil post on the last day of term in an envelope which would also contain a school report in the summer term and any other relevant information for that child. Usually school notices like future dates are sent out via the eldest sibling in school.

The school fees are revised once a year in line with the government's publication of teachers' salaries. Parents are sent a letter at the end of the previous Spring Term with a list of fees for the following academic year.

The school invoice will include tuition fees and school lunches, games as well as Dance. However other extra-curricular activities such as individual music lessons and Technokids are payable direct to the individuals concerned.

Broomfield House School operates an 'opt-out' school fee protection policy in conjunction with HSBC.

Please, contact School Office for up to date information: office@broomfieldhouse.com

5. Uniform and Outfiting

General Information
The school uniform is available from Dolphin House, 364 Richmond Road, East Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2DA  Telephone: 020 8892 1388. Dolphin House has ample parking nearby and their opening hours are Monday- Saturday: 9.30a.m. -5.30 p.m. They also operate a credit card, 24 hour delivery, mail order service on the same number.

Some specialist items of school uniform are available either from Dolphin House or from the School Office. These are marked with an * on the lists below. A few items are only available from the School Office, and these are marked with a + below.

There is a winter and a summer uniform for all full time boys and girls. Pre-Kindergarten children do not normally wear school uniform.

If parents wish, Pre-Kindergarten children may wear school uniform as long as it is the full regulation uniform and not separate individual items. The winter uniform should be worn from the start of the academic year in September, unless the weather is particularly warm and the Headteacher announces in writing that summer uniform may be worn. The summer uniform will be worn from the beginning of the summer term.

General Outfitting (for all full time pupils , Kindergarten and above)

1. Red or grey gloves
2. Red/grey scarf
3. Shoe/gym bag
4. Overall or old shirt for painting
5. Book carrier or backpack
6. Games/swim bag with school logo
7. School hymn book (at the beginning of Year 1 )

Winter Uniform for Boys (September onwards)

1. Red cap with embroidered badge to be worn to and from school
2. Red blazer with embroidered badge to be worn to and from school unless duffel is worn
3. Black or brown shoes
4. Grey shorts or trousers
5. White long sleeved shirt
6. Red/grey school tie
7. Grey v-neck pullover or school sweatshirt
8. Red school fleece (optional)**
9. Grey school duffel coat
10. Grey socks with red bands at top to be worn with shorts

**The school fleece may be worn as follows:
a) To and from school under a coat (girls) or duffel coat (boys)
b) To and from Games
c) In school during school hours
The school fleece must not be worn to and from school without a school coat over it.

Winter Uniform For Girls (September onwards)

1. Grey felt hat, trimmed with red band and embroidered badge (to be worn to and from school)
2. Red blazer with embroidered badge (to be worn to and from school unless coat is worn)
3. Black shoes
4. School regulation grey tunic (Year 6 only may wear grey school skirt)
5. White blouse
6. Red/grey tie
7. Red v-neck cardigan or school sweatshirt
8. Red school fleece (optional)**
9. Grey school wool overcoat with red lining and black velvet collar
10. Red knee length socks or red tights
11. Red hair bands or ribbons if worn
12. Red purse belt (optional)
13. Long white socks for special occasions

Summer Uniform for Boys
(from the beginning of the Summer Term and/or when announced by the Headteacher)

As winter uniform, except boys have the option of replacing the white shirt with a white aertex short-sleeved shirt. Ties must still be worn.
Brown sandals may be worn instead of black or brown shoes - NO open toes.

In addition, boys in Year 2 and above will need the following kit for summer cricket:

1. white aertex shirt or school polo shirt
2. white shorts or cricket trousers
3. white v-neck pullover
4. white socks
5. white trainers

Summer Uniform for Girls
(from the beginning of the summer term and/or when announced by the Headteacher)

As winter uniform except:

1. Straw boater with red band and embroidered badge
2. Summer regulation dress
3. Long white socks
4. Red sandals may be worn instead of black or brown shoes: NO open toes

Sports Uniform
 
Boys' Winter Games List (Years 2-6) 

1. Red football jersey
2. Red football socks
3. Navy football shorts
4. Football boots
5. Shin pads
6. School red jogging bottoms
7. School red Kagoul (optional until Year 4)

Boys' PE Kit (Kindergarten - Year 6)

1. White polo shirt with embroidered badge
2. White gym shorts
3. White socks
4. Trainers with non-marking soles

Boys' Swimming Kit (Years 1-6)

1. Red swimming trunks
2. *Red swim hat with school logo
3. *Bag for swimming kit

* Available from the School Office

Girls' Winter Games List (Years 2-6)

1. White polo shirt with embroidered badge 
2. Red nylon games shorts
3. White training shoes
4. School red jogging trousers
5. School red Kagoul (optional until Year 4)
6. Shin pads and long red football socks (for Year 2 girls only - football boots are optional)

Girls' PE Kit (Kindergarten - Year 6)

1. White polo shirt with embriodered badge 
2. Red nylon games shorts
3. White socks
4. Trainers with non-marking soles

Girls' Swimming Kit (Years 1 - 6)

1. Red school swimming costume (Years 1-3: Banner. Years 4-6 : Speedo)
2. * Red swim hat with school logo
3. *Bag for swimming kit

* Available from the School Office

ALL ITEMS OF SCHOOL UNIFORM SHOULD BE NAMED, ESPECIALLY WHEN CLOTHES ARE BEING CHANGED FOR SPORTS. 

6. Lessons

Music lessons
Broomfield House School employs several experienced working musicians to teach a variety of musical instruments. Pupils usually take up the piano, viola or recorder in Year 1 while older children (with a wider reach) can take up violin and flute. Brass, saxophone and clarinet are also available from Year 3 or when adult teeth have appeared.  Guitar is available for Years 3 and above.  Drum Club is available from Year 1 as are individual lessons by arrangement with the teacher.

Children are taken out of academic lessons for their music tuition. Year 6, who prepare for 11+ examinations in January, are given priority for break time lessons; however lessons can be rotated if the form teacher brings any concerns to the music teacher's attention. However it must be understood that a school day is finite and there will be an inevitable clash at sometime during your child's scholastic career.

Music teachers keep in touch with parents via the music practice books; practice is an important part of learning a musical instrument. The music teachers publish a list of dates when they will be in and will usually collect younger children from their classrooms while older children are expected to start taking responsibility for arriving at their lessons on time. The teachers will enter properly prepared students for the Trinity College, London exams which will be held at Broomfield House School or drummers for Rockschool Exams held elsewhere in Greater London.

A full term's notice is required when giving up any extracurricular activity billed via the School Office otherwise fees will be charged in lieu.

During the spring term, the school organises a Junior (Kindergarten -Year1) Instrumental concert for pupils who learn an instrument both inside and outside of school and also an evening Senior Instrumental concert for Years 2-6 that includes the school choir.

Wind, brass and strings are encouraged to take part in the school band, which also plays during the senior Christmas carol service.

Speech & Drama lessons
Drama is part of the school curriculum. At Christmas, the junior school, Pre-Kindergarten-Year 2, perform nativity plays in the school hall and parents are very welcome to come and watch. There is usually a creche for younger brothers and sisters as the artistes find it difficult to perform at their best when interrupted!

Years 3 and 4 put on their own  plays during an evening in the Spring Term. The senior years of the school put on a play for two nights at the end of the academic year and this is usually a showcase for the Year 6 leavers. Our plays in the last few years have included:

In March 2003, the school wide Football Day was born. Brentford ladies and Fulham teams were invited to send along their stars to introduce the game to girls and boys alike. However while the London Senior Girls Schools continue to play Netball we will encourage our girls to play in Netball teams against local schools rather than football. As the boys progress up the school they  play house football matches within school and external matches against local schools.

During the Spring term, there is a Mothers v Daughters Netball match and Fathers and Sons v Teachers and Boys Football match during the last games session.  The summer term is spent preparing for the races and events of Sports Day while introducing cricket and rounders.

Gymnastics
All classes, from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6, are taught PE by a specialist teacher in our fully equipped gymnasium at the School. Gymnastic classes form part of the general School curriculum. Mr Bennett organises 2 gymnastics clubs for those who are interested during Tuesday (dance) and Wednesday lunchtime. Girls are entered for BAGA awards, regularly achieving top levels. In recent girls have achieved national rankings in Sports acrobatics.  In addition, the school runs an optional dance based fitness club at lunchtimes as well on Tuesday lunchtimes.

Swimming
Swimming classes are held at Pools on the Park, Old Deer Park, Twickenham Road, Richmond, throughout the year for Years 1 to 6.

Children should not be left unattended at the pool and should wait quietly until the teaching staff arrive. Please keep your children under control while they are waiting to go in and change. They must not run around in the foyer or in the cafeteria area. Parents are requested to keep well away from the poolside during lessons, as obvious parental presence can prove to be a distraction to swimmers and staff alike.

Please ensure you register with Broomfield staff on arrival at the Pool. Late-comers must sign in at Reception to indicate on the Broomfield sheet that children have arrived at the Pool. Correct numbers are required, particularly in the event of an emergency: if your child is not registered and acknowledged as being present by a member of Broomfield staff, they may get left behind and will not be looked for in the event of a fire for instance!

Mrs Faulkner waits in the Year 2 classroom from 8.30 a.m. at school to take charge of non-swimmers and siblings of swimmers who have to be taken direct to the pool for the 9.00 am session. Swimmers for the 9.30 am session leave school at 9.00 am promptly by coach.

Swimming is part of the National curriculum as well as the school curriculum. We do therefore expect all children to swim except in special circumstances when a note should be provided. Non-swimmers should arrive at school at the normal time and will work under supervision until their class returns from the pool. Well done to our senior girls who came 3rd in the 2009 Borough Championships.

8. Preparing for Senior Schools
Choosing the right senior school for your child, and then undergoing the entrance examination and interview process, is something we aim to help Broomfield families with as much as possible. The school has a long history of success at preparing children for this challenge and of advising parents with accurate information and calm reassurance.

The process of choosing a school that is right for your child and family is on-going and cumulative. The curriculum at Broomfield prepares the children in the core academic subjects so by the end of Year 5 we expect to have covered the majority of the required topics for senior school examinations. We stay in touch with the senior schools as they can change their requirements on an annual basis, and we aim to adapt our curriculum if necessary to accommodate the needs of your child.

The PTA committee arranges fund raising and social events both for the children and parents. In the Spring term, the school atrium and gymnasium are usually transformed for our social event. Over the years Broomfield PTA nights have gone to Bollywood with amazing food and decorations and highly memorable staff and parent musical performances on stage, as well as enjoying theatrical detective nights, and in 2006 we enjoyed Casino Royale - a night of Bond themed casino entertainment complete with a dads and teachers special performance.  In 2009 the school rocked to the sounds of ABBA and Mamma Mia in another wonderful and happy PTA occassion.

The Summer term sees the school's annual fair with fabulous food (from organic barbecue to sushi), sumptuous drinks, and fun games, parades and stalls for the children. Please contact the school office if you would like to contribute to the PTA and need to know who to get in touch with.  In 2009 the fair was on a Tudor theme complete with pig roast, Tudor hat parade, fencing demonstration and a performance of Greensleeves by the school band. 

The PTA class representatives also welcome new families to the school through the regular coffee mornings for parents and class social evenings, and at the start of the year they host welcome coffee events in the school dining room for new parents just after drop off. The current chairman of the PTA is Mr E Krawitt, the treasurer is Mrs R Beresford, and the secretary is Mrs L Evans. Mr York, our head teacher, is the standing deputy chairman.

10. Health Information for Parents & Teachers
This is a brief guide for parents and teachers to clarify how we expect to care for the health of pupils at Broomfield House School.

First Aid
The school is continuing to send all academic and secretarial staff on First Aid courses:
 
a) First Aid treatment carried out by members of school staff in cases of emergency, accident or illness is done so in the best considered interests of the health and safety of the child at that moment. Parents will be contacted as soon as possible;
b) Address cards on each child are kept at the school with emergency contact numbers. The school secretary encourages all parents to make sure these are kept up to date.

Illness
We aim to work with parents to maintain our pupils health. To this end, we wish to help limit the spread of infection between children when there is illness in the school and to inform parents of any significant infection or infestation as appropriate.

When your child is ill, parents are asked to keep your child at home when they are unwell, specifically when the child has:

• a temperature
• any childhood disease (eg. Mumps, chicken pox etc)
• an unidentified rash
• significant vomiting or diarrhoea (and for 24 hours after this has ceased)
• head lice
• an eye infection

a) on the first day of your child's non-attendance at school due to illness, please call the school secretary to inform us of your child's absence.
b) the school will ask parents to collect from school any child who has:

• a temperature
• significant vomiting or diarrhoea
• an identified rash or spots or signs of these
• childhood disease
• head-lice - the child may return after treatment
• eye infection - until treatment is effective

In this situation, the school will comfort and care for the child until the parent or carer is able to collect them, usually from the school office.
c) The school will notify all parents within the relevant form in the case of childhood disease or headlice.

• the medication must be labelled with the child's name, dosage and instructions and it should be handed in person by a parent or carer to the school secretary or a member of the school teaching staff
  
• written permission will be sought from the parent for the medication to be administered at school to the child
  
• all medication will be kept in the school first aid cupboard, only accessible to the school staff

General Information on Health
The school aims to keep well informed on current information on childhood health and we will share this with parents whenever possible or necessary.

The school secretary has current guidance from the Department of Health on infection control in schools and nurseries for parents reference.