About Us

Echelford is a three form entry community primary school with a Published Admission Number of 90 for first admissions. Subject to places being available the school will also admit children into the other year groups up to the age of 11. Our current policy at Echelford School is to offer a choice of full or part-time education from the start of the academic year for all our new Foundation Stage (Reception) children. Children whose parents feel are not ready to stay for the whole day will attend for mornings only from 8:30 am to 11:30 am during the Autumn Term and will normally then become full time after Christmas. This admissions policy is kept under review and may be amended in the future.

Application forms for entry during academic year 2008/2009 should by now have been obtained from and returned to the school. Late applications will only be considered after the applicants who met this deadline have been offered places.  

There are no fixed catchment areas and the following priorities will only apply if the school is oversubscribed and the number of admissions has to be limited:-

1. First Priority: Looked-after Children

Children who are registered as being in the care of the loal authority (e.g. fostered or living in a children's home)

2. Second Priority: Exceptional Arrangements

Occasionally there will be a small number of children for whom exceptional arrangements will apply. This category may include children with statements of special educational needs where a particular school is named in the statement, and children with medical conditions or other sensitive individual and compelling family circumstances.

3. Third Priority: Brothers ans sisters (Siblings)

A sibling is a child who will have an older brother or sister already in attendance at the school to which application is being made.

4. Fourth Priority: Children for whom the school is the nearest to their home

The nearest school is defined as the closest to their home address admitting pupils of the appropriate age range. The distance is measured, in a straight line, from the address point of the pupil's house, as set by Ordnance Survey, to the nearest school gate available for pupils to use. This is calculated using the Admission and Transport Team's Geographical Information System. The nearest school may be either inside or outside the county boundary.Parents should note that if they apply for free transport different criteria apply. (Refer to page 23 in the booklet "Information on school admissions and transfers".)

5. Fifth Priority: Any other applicant

If the school is oversubscribed within any category places will be offered according to the distance measured in a straight line from the permanent home address.

There are no separate criteria for the admission of disabled pupils. disabled pupils are not treated less favourably than any other children in the school. However, as this school is situated on three floors and there is no lift, certain categories of disabled pupils may find access to classrooms unsuited to their needs.

Currently Echelford School has 656 pupils on roll and is one of the largest primary schools in Surrey.

An open evening is normally held during early October to give prospective pupils, parents and other interested parties the opportunity to see the school and the facilities it has to offer.

School Rules and Discipline

The basic rule of the school is to observe courtesy at all times. The school works towards the establishment of an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Good behaviour is expected from all pupils in their dealings with each other, with members of staff and with other adults. Anti-social conduct of any description will not be tolerated. Within the building children are expected to walk in a quiet and orderly fashion.

The educational process is likely to be more successful if it is based on three-way co-operation between the school, the child and the parents. To this end we have developed a Home-School Agreement in which all parties agree their respective roles in this joint responsibility. This Agreement includes reference to appropriate conduct expected from the pupils of Echelford School.

The development of good behaviour and responsible attitudes is encouraged in the Infant Department through the formation of classroom rules and the giving of reward and encouragement. A weekly special gold star assembly is held to celebrate notable achievements in work and behaviour. Parents are kept informed whenever there are incidents of inappropriate behaviour.

For the Juniors, team points may be awarded or Good News slips given for outstanding behaviour, sustained effort, quality of work, sportsmanship etc. Junior children whose behaviour gives cause for concern are likely to be issued with a report card each week which is monitored daily be staff. Good news slips and Report Cards are two of the methods used to keep parents informed about their children's conduct in school. Extra sessions of work after school, lunchtime detention or exclusion and full formal fixed term or permanent exclusions are sanctions available for use by the school against any junior child for persistent and / or serious breaches of discipline.

We aim to develop a sense of responsibility in all our children and one of the ways this is encouraged is by giving children at the top of the school the opportunity to become prefects, sports captains or house captains. A Head Girl and Head Boy are appointed to represent the school on special occasions throughout the year.

Children are expected to be punctual in their attendance. They should arrive on the school premises between 8.15 and 8.30 a.m. (or between 7.35 and 8.10 a.m. if coming to breakfast club.) If a child is delayed coming to school, he / she must report first to the office on arrival.

Jewellery is quite unsuitable for wear to school, especially earrings. Children with pierced ears should wear a single pair of simple studs - anything else can be very dangerous to the wearer in an active environment. The wearing of watches is permitted for junior age children but the school will accept no responsibility for their loss or damage. Ear studs and watches must be removed during P.E. and Games lessons in accordance with Surrey County Council's Safety Regulations. Parents are asked that ear piercing should take place at the beginning of the summer holidays to avoid depriving any child of P.E. and Games activities. Make-up is not permitted.

This is  handed into the school office from where it may be claimed. Unclaimed articles will be disposed of after a reasonable length of time. All personal property should be marked clearly with the owner's name. Neither the school nor the County Council can take responsibility for personal belongings.

The Junior Department of the school operates a house system using the names of four mythical beasts.

Centaur...........Yellow

Gryphon..........Blue

Phoenix...........Red

Unicorn............Green

The children earn points each week for effort in work and for general good conduct. The Bevan Trophy is awarded termly to the winning house. The houses also compete in athletic and sporting events.

A child attending such appointments must report to the school office before (s)he leaves the premises and again upon his/her return. Children are not allowed to leave the school without a note, a phone call or an accompanying parent.

If a child becomes ill during the day it is our policy to contact you at once. For this reason it is very important that we have an up-to-date record of your home and business telephone numbers. Please advise us immediately of any changes that occur. Any medicines or tablets considered essential by the doctor for a child to take at school must be handed in to the school office for safe keeping. The exception to this rule concerns asthma sufferers who are permitted to keep their inhalers with them at all times for immediate use.

These can be made to school between 8 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Where a pupil has forgotten to tell his/her parents of changes in plans we allow him/her to ring you to tell you what is happening. We must ask you, of course, to reimburse the cost of such a call. Naturally there is no charge for calls in the event of sickness or a last minute cancellation of a club or other activity.

Parents are welcome in school at any convenient time. The Headteacher or another member of the senior staff is usually available for interview at short notice. An advance note or telephone call is much appreciated. Arrangements to meet class and subject teachers are most easily made by sending a note to the teacher concerned. In the interests of security, parents must report first to the school office before proceeding to the classroom. Parents' evenings are held during the course of the year. These provide the opportunity for parents and staff to discuss the work and progress of each child in the school.

The percentage of sessions missed through authorised absence during last year's reporting period was 5.3%. During the same period the percentage for unauthorised absence was 0%.

Family Holidays

The Education Act allows for a child to be absent for up to two weeks in a year for family holidays provided that permission has been granted by the school. Written requests for leave of absence must be submitted to the Headteacher in advance and each case will be considered on its merits.

Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities 

Under normal circumstances a variety of clubs and activities is offered to the children during the course of a week and according to the time of year. These incluse ICT, French, Spanish, Choir, Keyboard, Drama, Chess, Craft, Fitness, Dance, Gymnastics and Self-Defence. Other sporting activities include training sessions for Netball, Rounders, Athletics, Badminton, Cricket. Football, Tag Rugby and Cross Country. These may take place before school, during the lunch hour, or after the close of afternoon school.

The range of out-of-school-hours clubs and activities, some offered by approved outside providers, is continuing to develop in response to the government's out-of-school-hours initiative.

Children who join the clubs are expected to take part on a regular basis. Rehearsals for school stage productions may also occasionally take place on Saturday mornings or during the holidays.

For children requiring a breakfast at school we operate a Breakfast Club from 7.35 - 8.15 each morning.

Our on-site partner, The Town Tree Pre-School also provides after-school care until 6 pm by private arrangement. (Tel: 01784 229700)

Visits and Journeys

Education off the school premises plays a very important part in our work. All classes have day visits during the year to places connected with the general work of the class. In addition children are given the chance to take part in extended school journeys at various stages of their junior school life. It must be stressed that visits and journeys are an extension of the child's work and are not to be regarded purely as holidays.

School Uniform

We encourage our children to take a pride in their appearance. To this end all pupils are expected to wear the prescribed school uniform, as we believe this is an important element in helping to develop a sense of belonging to Echelford. We ask parents to support us in this policy by ensuring that children are sent to school correctly dressed.

Boys:

Parents, Teachers and Friends Association

There is a flourishing PTFA and all parents are automatically included in the membership. An Annual General Meeting is held early in the Autumn Term to elect the Committee for the new school year.

A vital function of the PTFA is to promote social interaction between home and school and to raise additional funds for the benefit of the children of Echelford School.

The Association is an active force for the promotion of quality in education and supports the interests of the school at local, county and national levels.

Useful Names, Addresses and Telephone Numbers

The School Office,

The Echelford Primary School,

Park Road,

Ashford,

Middlesex TW15 1EX

Tel: 01784 253233

Fax: 01784 421870

Email: office@echelford.surrey.sch.uk

Mr. N. Wilson,

Head of Schools and Learning,

Surrey County Council,

County Hall,

Kingston-upon-Thames,

Surrey KT1 2DJ

Tel: 0208 541 9501

H. Norwicki,

Local Education Officer,

NE Local Education Office,

Fairmount House,

Bluu Hill,

Leatherhead KT22 7AH

Tel: 01372 833412

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School Governing Body -

Surrey LEA

The Governing Body has adopted the LEA's Charging and Remissions Policy. Parents are invited to contribute a sum equel to the cost of a particular school visit or activity. There is no obligation to contribute but a visit or activity may have to be cancelled if sufficient funding is not forthcoming.

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The Education (School Curriculum and Related Information) Regulations 1989

Documents which come under this heading include: -