2nd September 2024

Dear Families, 

A very warm welcome as we start the new academic year. We are looking forward to welcoming your child to school on Wednesday, 4th September for the first day of the new academic year. This letter provides you with useful information for the 2024-2025 school year including our school Vision, Values, Key Information, Home-School Agreement, and ‘Who Does What’. 

The Swiss Cottage School
‘Vision’		 The positive school culture and ethos
are supported by our ‘School Values’ 

We have 30 classes across our Lower and Upper School taught within our 5 Curriculum Pathways. 

A teaching and learning pack will be sent home with next week’s newsletter to share information about your child’s class, timetable and learning targets. 

Key Information

School Day

School day starts at 9:30am.   School day finishes at 3:30pm.
Transition into the school day begins at 9:15am and home begins at 3:15pm. 

Pupil Absence

Call the school by 9:30am on 0207 681 8080 select option 2.
State your child’s full name, class, and reason for absence.

Optional Uniform

An optional uniform is available for pupils 
https://swisscottage.camden.sch.uk/families/school-uniform 

Contact Details

Please ensure the school has your current: Phone numbers, emergency contact numbers, email address, house address. You can provide this by emailing admin@swisscottage.camden.sch.uk

Medical Information

Please ensure the school has updated information on medicine and allergies. 
- Doctor/GP surgery name, GP address, GP phone number

Website

General information on the school including term dates for this year:
www.swisscottage.camden.sch.uk https://swisscottage.camden.sch.uk/parents/termdates

Weekly Newsletter

Provides specific updates. At the start of each half term you receive key dates and what to expect from class teams. 

Transport Information 

If your child receives Local Authority Transport – this information is provided by the LA Transport Team. We do not receive transport information. 

Communication between School and Home 2024-2025

Type

Types of communication 

Home-School 

communication book 

The home-school communication book will be provided to all families on the first day of school. It is completed daily by the teaching team. It is the main mode of communication with families.
The home-school communication book will be sent home in your child’s bag on    4th September 2024. 

Phone call 

 

Reception is open from 8:30-4:30pm daily. Families can call the school office on 0207 681 8080. The system has a voicemail function. Register your child’s absence by 9:30am choosing option 2.  

Start of School Year Phone Call

Teachers will call every family in their class across the first two weeks of the school year to discuss the transition process for your child. 

Email communication

Parents/carers can send emails to the school using admin@swisscottage.camden.sch.uk 
Emails cannot be sent directly to teachers or staff members. If an urgent message needs to be shared with the team that you were unable to put in the home-school communication book, please call or email reception. The office will direct the email to the appropriate staff member and manage the next steps. 
Teachers and teaching staff do not email parents/carers directly. 

Evidence for Learning 

(Every 2 Weeks)

This is the online platform for teachers to share pupil’s learning and formative assessment with parents/carers. Teachers upload regularly and parent/carers receive the download every two weeks. Dates are provided at the start of each term.

Meetings 

There is an optional progress meeting every term with the class teacher that families can join, and one Annual Review meeting for the EHCP. 
Families can also request additional meetings with relevant staff – email admin@swisscottage.camden.sch.uk  

Verbal Updates at drop-off / pick-up

Families can speak briefly with teaching teams at drop off / pick up. 
This is not a meeting time and the focus for teams is to transition the entire class to their classroom to start the daily timetable.

Reports and Assessments

Families receive a class timetable, summary of targets on the Personalised Learning Intention Map (PLIM), and useful information every term. 
Families receive the summary electronic EfL learning journal and progress report at the end of the term. 

Class visits

There are two family learning sessions over the year when families are invited to to join a learning session. Additional invitations (for example, to view an exhibition or join a school trip) will be specific to classes. 
Families are invited to meet the teacher at the Autumn Term Class coffee morning in September.  

Whole school events

Weekly coffee mornings shares school information and themed workshops with our Family Inclusion Team. 
Targeted workshops are also offered - for example Evidence for Learning sessions.
Families are also invited to join whole school celebrations (such as International Day)

Newsletter, website and text

The website has useful information such as term dates, curriculum overview, and news items. 
The weekly newsletters give updates of learning and events across the school. 

Text

The school uses a protected text system for school updates through our managed information system. 
Teachers and staff do not text or WhatsApp parents/carers.
Teachers and staff cannot use personal mobiles in school. 

Home-School Agreement 

As a school

We will do our best to:

  • Ensure our school values and ethos are positive and supportive.
  • Support your child’s wellbeing and safety by providing a safe, supportive and caring learning environment.
  • Help and encourage your child to reach their full potential.  
  • Monitor and communicate with parents/carers regularly on your child’s wellbeing and progress through
    • Home/school communication books that are filled in daily by staff and should be updated by families.
    • Regular Evidence for Learning uploads with photos, videos and learning commentary.
    • There are termly Progress Review meetings as well as the additional Annual Review meeting. We also facilitate multi-agency meetings for families.
  • Respond to communications from parents/carers in a timely manner within school working hours. Reception is open from 8:30-4:30pm. Teachers are teaching during the school day.
  • Address any concerns with parents/carers related to the school, and refer you to the relevant staff member or agency other service providers. 
  • Offer opportunities for parents/carers through our programme of coffee mornings, workshops, Family Learning Weeks, and annual events.

As the Parent/Carer:

I will do my best to:

  • Work in partnership with the school teams to get the best outcomes for my child.
  • Treat all members of the school community with care and respect.
  • Engage in parent meetings and work together with the school in order to achieve the best outcomes for my child.
  • Read all communications sent home by the school and respond where necessary. 
  • Communicate to the school any concerns that I have about my child that may affect their behaviour in school or ability to learn.
  • Make sure communication with the school is respectful. I recognise that abuse against staff or other parents/carers will not be tolerated.
  • Follow the school’s policies around attendance- notify the school if my child will be absent and request approval for holidays during term time.

Who Does What? Overview of Service Providers 2024-2025

Swiss Cottage School, Development and Research Centre is a community-maintained special school in the London Borough of Camden. We appreciate that you are liaising with a range of Local Authority teams for your child. The school is responsible for the education area in orange. Other organisations responsible for services supporting your child and family are also listed below. 

We look forward to welcoming your child back to school on 4th September 2024! Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support your child’s transition to the new academic year.

Yours Sincerely,

Swiss Cottage School