Parent Helper Guidelines
June 2019
Parent Helper Guidelines
Thank you for volunteering to help our children in school. We feel that the involvement of parents in children's education is vital and we encourage active participation in many ways.
Some parents come to school to help with a variety of tasks such as ICT, cooking, and especially reading, and usually work with small groups in specific classes. Other parents help when the children are taken on visits outside school. Similarly, some parents like to help in their child’s own class and some prefer to help elsewhere in the school. In whatever way parents offer their time, we are always extremely grateful.
The aim of this booklet is to give you all the information you need to make your time both worthwhile and enjoyable. Thank you for your support.
At Holly Grove Primary School we want children to be happy and confident and to develop an enduring love of learning.
We aim to:
Parent helpers have a valuable role in helping us to fulfil these aims.
Safeguarding
There is now a requirement for schools to carry out a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check for all staff and volunteers who have regular contact with children. All schools need to hold a register of the checks undertaken.
In order for you to work in school as a volunteer, you will need to complete a DBS form (completed on online in the school office) Please be assured that all information will be treated in the strictest confidence and that these checks are done only in the best interests and safety of the children.
When you first start as a Parent helper, you will be signposted to a copy of the school’s Safeguarding Policy (in the staff room and online) and the Keeping Children Safe in Education. You will be asked to sign to say that you have read these. We also have a Safeguarding notice board in the staff room with lots of other information on it.
If a child tells you something that causes you concern, please tell the class teacher or any other member of staff who will help you to fill in the appropriate form as soon as possible after the disclosure in an appropriate setting so that others cannot overhear.
Mrs. Barnes is the School Designated Safeguarding lead
Mrs. O’Hare is the School Deputy Safeguarding lead
Mrs Spencer Safeguarding Officer.
Security
On arrival at school, please sign in at the office where you will receive a volunteers’ badge. You also need to turn off mobile phones and you are not allowed to use mobile phones within the main school. You can use them in the staff room or outside the front entrance.
Parent Helper Guidelines
Volunteers, Parents and Guardians who attend school events are not permitted to have their mobile phone on their person as this is part of our Child Safeguarding Policy. If any Volunteers, Parents or Guardians who turns up with their mobile phone and refuses to hand it into staff will not be allowed to attend the event. If you are awaiting an emergency phone call please leave your phone with office staff who will find you if your phone rings. School provides lockers for Volunteers who work in school.
Tea/coffee arrangements
There are tea and coffee making facilities in the school staff room. This is provided free of charge. The toilets are next to the staff room.
In the Event of a Fire Alarm
Please exit the school by one of the fire exits – if you are in a classroom head towards the playgrounds. KS2 playground is the assembly point for the older children and KS1 for the younger children. If you are in nursery – the nursery playground. If you are in the office area or the staff room – leave by the front entrance and assembly outside the main entrance. If you are in the hall please leave through the back, main hall doors which leads to the car park.
Thank you!
In case we forget to say, please be assured that we really do appreciate your help (we may sometimes forget because we are so busy but we do).
If you have any worries or query, or any good ideas on how we can improve something, please let us know – we are always willing to listen.
June 2019