Joining in Year 7

Parental engagement plays a vital role in young people’s achievement. At Forge Valley School, we work in partnership with pupils and parents/carers to help every child reach their full potential. The Home–School Agreement sets out the shared responsibilities and expectations that support learning and achievement across our community.

Parents and carers are regularly consulted through surveys and questionnaires. Their feedback plays an important role in the school’s self‑evaluation processes and helps to inform priorities for improvement and development. This feedback supports the Senior Leadership Team in developing effective policies and procedures that enhance pupils’ learning, wellbeing and the overall organisation of the school.

Forge Valley School values the active involvement of parents and carers. Opportunities to be involved may include:

• Supporting school events and activities
• Assisting with fundraising initiatives
• Taking part in courses and educational opportunities offered by the school

Strong parental engagement helps to enrich school life and strengthen our community.

Forge Valley School is committed to supporting families by:

• Providing care and guidance to ensure pupils are healthy, happy and able to achieve their best
• Maintaining clear and effective communication between home and school when concerns arise
• Offering information, advice and guidance on pupils’ learning and progress, and how this can be supported at home
• Providing specialist support for pupils and families with additional or specific needs

We are committed to addressing concerns promptly and constructively. The following routes should be used:

Concerns about individual pupils:

• contact the pupil’s Form Tutor

Concerns about management or organisation:

• contact a member of the Senior Leadership Team

Concerns about policies or procedures:

• raise these with a member of the Governing Body

The school will always aim to resolve concerns quickly and positively, with pupils’ wellbeing and learning as the key priorities. All of the above can be contacted by telephone or via email at: info@forgevalley.sheffield.sch.uk

See our uniform page for further details

See our attendance page for further details

Your child will be given a school planner and taught how to use it effectively.

Other equipment is required and should include:

• 2 x black pens

• 1 x green pen

• 2 x pencils

• 1 x ruler

• 1 x eraser

• 1 x pencil sharpener

• 1 x calculator

• 1 x highlighter

• 1 x whiteboard pen

• 1 x reading book

• 1 x bag (large enough to hold an A4 size folder)

If your child currently has private music lessons and you would like this to continue in secondary school or if you are interested in them taking private lessons, then please contact:

info@forgevalley.sheffield.sch.uk

We are really proud that the majority of pupils choose to walk to school. We have bicycle storage for those who wish to cycle. Forge Valley is easily accessible by bus and SuperTram.

The bus which services Forge Valley School is listed below. Please check with Travel South Yorkshire for updated bus times:

www.travelsouthyorkshire.com or by phoning Traveline on 01709 515151.

The school is here to help your child achieve high standards in their work and behaviour in a calm and safe environment. We cannot do this if staff, or others, suffer abusive behaviour from any pupil, parent/carer or other adult. All our staff expect to be treated with respect and courtesy at all times.

This means that all pupils must:

• Follow instructions without answering back or arguing
• Never swear or say anything offensive towards members of the school community
• Never act in an aggressive way towards any member of the school community

Any pupil who acts in an abusive way, especially towards staff, will receive an immediate serious sanction; likely to be an exclusion.

If as a parent, you have a complaint about the school, please raise it with school staff. Should you not be satisfied with the response, please follow the school’s complaints procedure.

Anyone who is abusive towards staff or others, may be banned from the school premises and could be prosecuted.

Our school meal service operates during breaktime and lunchtime, offering a wide range of snacks, sandwiches, and hot meals to suit all tastes.

We use a cashless catering system, meaning pupils do not need to bring cash into school. Payments are made using facial recognition, which automatically debits the pupil’s catering account when food is purchased.

Parents and carers can top up their child’s account online using ParentPay, our secure online payment system. ParentPay also allows families to view what their child has purchased each day, a feature many parents/carers find both helpful and reassuring.

Breakfast (8:00 – 8:30am)

A selection of cereals, toast, crumpets, teacakes, and a wide range of hot and cold drinks.

Mid-morning Break

Hot snacks, fresh fruit, yoghurts, and drinks.

Lunch

A varied menu including hot meals, jacket potatoes, pasta pots, sandwiches, wraps, and paninis.

Please visit our website for current menus and prices (please note that prices are subject to change in September).Special dietary requirements can be accommodated. Parents and carers are encouraged to contact the Catering Department via the school office to discuss individual needs.

Free school meals are a statutory benefit, meaning that if you qualify, you have a legal right for your child to receive them.

Your child may be eligible for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit (if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 and your household income is below £7,400 per year, after tax and excluding benefits)

Children who receive these benefits directly, rather than through a parent or guardian, may also be eligible. Parents who continue to receive Working Tax Credit for four weeks after employment ends are entitled to free school meals during that period. This entitlement also applies to parents who begin working fewer than 16 hours per week.

Pupils eligible for free school meals also attract additional funding for the school, which is used to support pupils in other ways, such as curriculum enrichment and school trips. Importantly, this funding is provided even if your child does not take the meals.

A Free School Meals application form is included in this pack should you wish to apply.

If you are unsure whether you qualify or would like further information, please contact:

Free School Meals Team

???? 0114 273 4567 (Option 4, then Option 3)

???? First Point, Howden House, 1 Union Street,

Sheffield, S1 2FH

???? www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

For further information please see our ParentPay page

For further information please see our MCAS page