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Information for ParentsWe have put together this information which you will need for when your child starts at their new school. We hope you will find this useful and if you do have any questions or further inquiries, please contact us. The Oak Lodge PrinciplesWe are all responsible for making Oak Lodge a pleasant place of learning. - Respect everyone and yourself. School AimsOak Lodge wants to enable its pupils to become independent and socially competent adults. We want them to be able to earn their living, gain job satisfaction, enjoy their leisure and to be eager to continue learning. We want them to take pride in themselves as deaf people and in what they can achieve. We want them to gain the communication skills which are necessary in life. We want them to be able to play as full a part as possible in both the hearing and deaf communities. The BasicsWhat are the times of the school day? On Monday, pupils start at 9.00 a.m. and leave at: 3.00 p.m. Pupils may arrive at school up to 30 minutes before the start of the school day, when they will be supervised until school starts. At the end of the school day, all day children go home and boarding children go to the hostel. Some of the older pupils will have evening classes and will leave school at 5 p.m. If your child is required to stay after school, we will naturally write to you for your permission. Will my child be given homework? Yes, homework is an essential part of your child's education. He/she will be given regular homework, which is noted down in the Homework Diary. The work will be varied, and will not always involve written work. We ask that parents keep a check on the Homework Diary, and sign it weekly, as part of your support for your child's work. Pupils who do not complete their homework will be kept in at lunch break to finish it. What happens if my child is ill or needs time off school? Regular attendance and being on time are very important. If your child is away from school because of illness, please let the school know either by telephone or letter. If your child has a hospital or dental appointment, or any other special reason for being away, please let us know beforehand. Permission may be given for up to 2 weeks absence to enable children to have a holiday with their parents, provided that you apply to the Headteacher beforehand. Your child's place at Oak Lodge will be at risk if they are away for more than 2 weeks. What about Medicines and Tablets etc? If your child is given tablets by your doctor to be taken during the week, please send a note explaining when they are to be taken and how many. The tablets must be handed in, so that we can see that they are taken at the right time. It is obviously dangerous to have them in the children's lockers - we also need to know, to avoid two sets of treatment being given. What if my child is ill in school time? If a pupil is injured or becomes very ill, we will contact you as soon as possible. If necessary we will contact the school doctor to come in to see your child or we will take the pupil to a local hospital. If we cannot contact you, we will take any necessary decisions to safeguard the well being of your child. If your child is too ill to go home alone, we will make arrangements with you to take your child home. School UniformIs there a school uniform?Yes, all pupils wear the following: - Black leather shoes, securely tied or fastened Please supply your child with a bag or case (plastic ones aren't too expensive) for him/her to carry his/her pens, pencils and books from room to room and to carry their homework back and forth each day. Pupils need to provide their own pens and we encourage them to look after their own things well. NO rings or jewellery shall be worn externally, other than sleeper-studs
worn in pierced ears. Are there any exceptions? Yes, from time to time the School may relax rules in the light of particular circumstances, e.g. very hot weather, going on a school journey. Families should consult with the School if they have cultural or religious reasons for wanting to deviate from the above. Is there a sports kit? Yes, when doing PE or games, pupils should have: - Sports shoes, securely tied NO watches should be worn when doing PE or games. What does my child need for swimming? A swimming costume or trunks and a towel for swimming lessons (usually once a week). Hearing Aids We try to make sure that the children wear their hearing aids (except when playing vigorous games). Please help us by ensuring that the child makes use of the aid at home and that he or she BRINGS THE AID TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. Please let us know if an aid gets lost at home, or if an ear mould is painful or if your child is refusing to wear the aid. Money MattersWhat do I pay for school lunches? Each school lunch costs £2.10, making the weekly cost £10.50. Day pupils should bring dinner money on Monday mornings, preferably in an envelope saying how much is being paid. You may pay for a whole term at a time, in which case the school secretary will tell you how much this is. Day pupils who already get free school dinners will continue doing so, unless their financial circumstances change, but they must reapply. Please contact the school admin officer for a form. Children staying in the Hostel get all meals at no cost to families. At lunchtime, all the pupils have a school dinner. We can provide vegetarian meals, and can cater for special diets for religious or medical reasons. We are very well fed at Oak Lodge, so you do not need to provide any other food for your child. If your child does need a special diet, please let the school know. Contribution towards the school fund There is a school fund to pay for treats, etc not paid for by the Authority. We ask for a contribution of £20 per year from parents. If you wish you can pay School Fund weekly or termly. What is the best way to pay? The best way to avoid confusion and to see that the money is not wasted or lost, is to give all the money to your child on Monday morning in an envelope labelled as follows: - Dinner money for one week - £10.00 If you are having money problems because of unemployment, sickness etc, please do tell us. The school social worker or your own social worker will be able to give information about possible benefits. What money does my child need to have? Apart from day children bringing dinner money on Mondays, we advise against carrying more than a few pounds. Large amounts of money can be a severe temptation for other pupils. We encourage pupils to keep money with them at all times, using a pouch if necessary and not to leave valuables unattended in bags or coats. Mobile Phones Pupils are provided with a locker at school. Mobile phones are to be locked away during school hours. The school takes no responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged phones. Will my child be issued with a travel pass? Day children living at a distance from school are issued with Travel Passes if they travel by public transport. These are normally available at school on the first day of term, so your child will need to pay their fare to school on the first day only. Liz Reda, the school admin officer will be able to help you with any questions about passes. School Subjects and SupportWhat range of subjects will my child study? We have 24 lessons a week, during which the younger pupils have lessons in the full range of subjects: English; Reading; Speech; Maths; Science; Art and Design; Humanities (History, Geography, RE); Deaf Studies; Food Technology; Personal Social & Health Education; Computing; Design and Technology; Keyboarding; Swimming; PE; Deaf Studies. We have a carefully planned programme of Sex Education delivered through our PSHE and Science programmes. We also have a programme of Religious Education delivered through assemblies and RE lessons. Pupils can be withdrawn from the lessons at the parents' request. Does Oak Lodge have a system for rewarding good work? All pupils are expected to behave responsibly, showing consideration, courtesy and respect for other people at all times. With the pupils we have developed the Oak Lodge "Principles" to encourage positive attitudes and achievements. We have a system of three Houses at Oak Lodge. Good work, consistent effort and helpfulness are rewarded with merit marks, which contribute to each pupil's individual total, and to their House total. At the end of each half term, certificates (and a valuable prize!) are awarded to both individuals and to the best House. We have a well-organised procedure so that unacceptable behaviour leads to interviews with their pastoral tutor, and then to Headteacher's detention (at lunchtime). Incidents that we consider serious (e.g. bullying) are fortunately rare at Oak Lodge, but would lead to an Incident Report and if the behaviour continues then parents are likely to be informed. At the end of the school year, there will be a special prize-giving evening when cups and certificates will be presented to deserving pupils. How will I know the progress my child is making? For every pupil, every year, an Annual Review Meeting is held. Parents are always invited to this meeting at which a group of staff from school and the local authority, with parents, discuss their child's progress over the past year and plan what we will be aiming for in the coming year. These will be written down in the annual review report and sent to you after the meeting. These are important meetings, and we hope that you will make sure you are able to come and put forward your views. In addition there are three parents evenings/afternoons every year where there is an opportunity to talk with your child's teachers and look at his/her work. You will receive a school report once a year as well as the very comprehensive annual review report. What information or help does Oak Lodge need from us? It is important for the school to have a record of your address, home and work telephone numbers and an emergency number to contact if necessary. Should any of these change, please inform us straight away. Effective education is a three-way partnership between the child, parents and the school. We have a Home-School Agreement that we will sign, and would like you and your child to read carefully and sign when you visit the school. Where to ask for help The Headteacher, Peter Merrifield, is available to offer help when needed. He lives here at the school, and can be contacted on the school telephone number 020 8673 3453 CommunicationEveryone at school is responsible for your child's communication needs. When your child arrives at school in September, their communication skills are assessed and all staff will be made aware of their needs and ability. Before your child starts at the school, the Behaviour Support Officer will make a home visit and ask about you and your child's communication. She will then complete a Home/School Document so we know the needs and abilities before your child starts at Oak Lodge. Some pupils meet with our specialist Speech and Language Therapists for communication sessions. Together with Deaf staff, the SLT team assess each pupils' communication skills in Signing (BSL and SSE), Listening and Lip-reading, Reading and Writing and Speaking. The pupils work in groups on those skills they need to develop for communication with hearing people. In the summer term, the pupils are tested on their ability to communicate in the "Effective Communication" exams. Certificates from these exams then go into the pupil's Record of Achievement. The SLT Team, together with the Dead Studies Tutor write a report for each pupil's Annual Review and are always pleased to see parents at other times to discuss their child's communication. Communication Policy Oak Lodge has a Communication Policy, the aim of which is to teach pupils how to use British Sign Language and spoken/written English, so that they can: - Mix with hearing and Deaf communities Staff use of sign language All staff are identified as using the following modes of communication: English Speaking, SSE, BSL or Bilingual - using both SSE and BSL. Sign Language Training is offered to all members of staff including cleaners, admin and site staff. What is BSL? BSL, British Sign Language, is a natural sign language used in the Deaf community in Britain. Like some other spoken languages, it cannot be written down, but is a language with its own structure and grammar. BSL is not acting or miming. What is SSE? SSE, Sign Supported English, mean you speak and follow English structures and grammar but also include the use of some signs. Some deaf people may use SSE but without voice. Please note: Sign language is different in every country - the same as spoken languages. Throughout Britain, there are also variations in signs, just as there are regional accents. Communication Tips Some points to consider when communicating with a deaf or hard of hearing child. Before you start talking, make sure that you have their attention, e.g. tap them lightly on the arm, flash the light on and off, or stamp on the floor. Make sure you are in front of, and on the same level as, the deaf child. Check that you are facing the light and not sitting/standing in front of a window. Background noise must be kept to a minimum. Remember hearing aid users cannot cut out any background noise. Do not shout - you become more difficult to understand and will look angry and so confuse the meaning of what you are saying. Speak clearly with a normal rhythm of speech. Remember that sentences and phrases are easier to understand than single words. Use any correct sign language when you can and try to use appropriate facial expressions. Do not smoke or eat whilst you are speaking and make sure you do not cover your face with hands, paper, hair etc. Check regularly that your child has understood. Keep your head still and stop talking if you turn away. Do not give up! Offer to write things down in simple English. Be prepared to learn more sign language. Remember that it's very tiring to lip read. Lip-reading is only an aid to communication and relies heavily on guesswork. Many words look the same and there will be times when your child has not understood. Always check that they are able to follow the conversation and be willing to rephrase sentences. Deaf Studies Deaf Studies are lessons for children who need: To improve their British Sign Language (BSL) skills, to find out about the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture and to develop a Deaf Identity. A Deaf member of staff teaches Deaf Studies. At the end of the course, the students take CACDP exams, stages 1 & 2. Helping your child with reading and writing As well as being part of the academic curriculum at school, reading and writing skills are also needed by deaf people in order to communicate with non-signing hearing people and to understand the world around them. Some examples are: Teletext TV, Minicom/text phone, Notes and messages, Written conversations, Words in the environment e.g. Exit, Danger, No Smoking etc. As parents/carers, there are many real life opportunities for you to practice these skills with your child. Here are some suggestions: written conversations with family members who cannot sign, shopping lists, TV programme guides, holiday postcards, greetings cards, signs and notices in shops and public places. We are always happy to give you further ideas at the annual review meetings or parents evenings. Deaf children often have difficulty with reading and writing English. Their sentences can be wrongly structured - in the wrong order and with words missed out. This usually improves as the child gets older, and is one of the aspects we work on in English lessons. We are not asking for parents and carers to act as teachers but would suggest you give praise and encouragement when you have understood the meaning of what your child has written. When you write your reply in simple, correct English, you will be giving a model sentence for your child to learn and read from. Extra Equipment and Aids There is a variety of equipment available to you. Each council has their own policy of what equipment they will loan to you free of charge. Under the Children's' Act 1989, local authorities must provide services to minimise the effect of children's disabilities. This includes providing special equipment such as: Text Phones - Deaf children should have the same access to the telephone as hearing children and are entitled to the same amount of privacy. Not only do deaf children encourage your child to learn and improve their written/typed English, but will also increase their network of friends. Alarm clocks - these can either be flashing lights, vibrating clocks or wired up to a pager. When children come to Oak Lodge, they are old enough to taking responsibility for getting up themselves in the morning and learning to rely less on others. Doorbells - these are wired up to your main house lights, so they flash on and off when the bell is rung. Again, this equipment allows your child to become more independent. Teletext - having teletext on your television allows your child to join in family activities, improve their reading skills and learn to follow spoken English word formation. Being able to watch television allows Deaf children to pick up information most of us take for granted. Video caption readers - this is a piece of equipment that allows your children to watch hidden captions on rented videos. Smoke detectors - these can either be wired to special lights or a vibrating pad under your child's pillow, so that a Deaf child will be aware if there is a house fire. Loop System - this equipment can be wired into your television or hi-fi and if your child is able to use hearing aids, this allows them to cut out background noise and concentrate on that specific piece of equipment. Social Workers It is useful to contact your local council to check if they have a Deaf Team or "Sensory Impairment Team", as each borough varies in the services that they provide. It is helpful to make yourself known to them and find out what they will provide. Deaf children are not automatically allocated a social worker. Your child will not be automatically registered disabled. If you want your child on the Disability Register you must inform your borough council of this. Disability Living Allowance Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit received if you have a disabled or deaf child, in order to help improve the quality of that child's life, for example buying specialist equipment or by learning to communicate by taking a course in BSL. DLA is a tax-free social security benefit. Parents with a deaf child can claim under the section "Care Component" because your child will need extra help and care with their communication. Further information can be obtained from wither your local council, your social worker or the NCDS (National Deaf Children's Society) regarding equipment available and what you are entitled to. Why is Communication Important?Imagine a life where no-one understood you, or you could not understand other. How would you learn, question develop? Would you become angry, frustrated, depressed or isolated? How would you learn about your family, culture, current affairs or religion? We all need to communicate our ideas, feelings and ideas to others. Everyone is responsible for breaking down communication barriers that may restrict someone from learning. FAMILY+SCHOOL+CHILD = The aim at Oak Lodge School is for all the students to leave us as independent confident young people who have learned and achieved to the best of their ability. |
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