Starting School at Richmond?
Everything you need to know...
Make sure you have read our Why choose Richmond? page before you start!
If your child is going to be starting school with us, scroll through this page for lots of useful information for new parents.
Who we are
Headteacher
Miss L Conway
Deputy Headteacher
Miss E Smith
SENCO
Miss C Mansell
Headteacher
Miss L Conway
Deputy Headteacher
Miss E Smith
Assistant Headteacher
Miss E Melia
Miss M Lea
SENCO
Miss C Mansell
SENCO Assistant
Helen de Lange
Parent Support Advisor
Mr S Kemsley
Class Teachers
Nursery
Miss S Lucas
Reception
Miss H Gray
Miss C Rogers
Year 1
Mr J Woodbridge
Miss K Hicks
Year 2
Miss E Melia,
Mrs C Rayner
Miss S Millard
Year 3
Mr C Kaljouw
Mrs L Skinner
Mrs S Austin-Fernandes
Year 4
Mrs C Kaljouw
Year 5
Miss J Camp
Year 5/6
Mrs C Coleman
Year 6
Miss M Lea/Mrs R Jefferies
PPA Cover Teachers
Miss V Kennedy
Mrs L Slark
HLTA/Speech & Language
Mrs S Cook
Teaching Assistants
Ms L Edwards
Mrs C Lines
Mrs C Puddephatt
Mrs J Gebbie
Mrs C Ross
Mrs M Rutter
Mrs S Edgson
Miss C Whittaker
Mrs K Ennor
Miss A Rutter
Miss L Neal
Mrs C Hook
Mrs A Dop
Miss V Dixon
Mrs K Philpott
Miss M Hubbard
Mrs C Popple
Miss L Havil
Mrs K Davis
Mrs S Quinn
Miss C Nagi
Miss C Collins
Mrs N Pay
Miss C Howard
Miss J Belsom
Mrs K Hancock
Miss R Bean
Mrs L Smart
Miss A Panting
Miss B Baxter
Nurture Lead
Miss M Therisa
Administrative Team
Mrs A Dop
Mrs C Puddephatt
Attendance Officer
Mrs Karen Williams
Nursery Admin
Miss J Baker
Safeguarding Lead
Miss V Shrivell
Parent Support Advisor
Mr S Kemsley
Mid Day Meals Team
Mrs S Atkins
Mrs K Betts
Mrs G Hamilton
ICT Manager
Mr D Banks
Site Assistant
Mrs S Collins
How we communicate
Reach More Parents is our communication app for all current parents with children at the school.
It is our primary method of communication and essential for day to day contact with the school.
We use weduc to:
- Send messages (which parents receive as app notifications)
- Receive messages (parents can message the school office from the Weduc app)
- Share letters and newsletters
- Share key dates on our calendar
- Share what’s been going on at the school in our newsfeed
- Share useful links and information in ‘The Hub’ (Term dates, Staff list, Policies, etc.)
You can download the Weduc app onto your smart phone or tablet from the App Store or Google Play.
To register to use the app, please ask the school office for your unique enrolment code if you have not received one.
Please note that parents will only be able to receive an enrolment code once their child has started school.
Reach More Parents is not the only method we communicate with parents and carers and it is not the only way they can communicate with us. There are termly academic reports, drop-in sessions and parent consultation meetings where you can speak to the staff in the school.
We of course also communicate by telephone when needed, you can:
Call us on 01795 662891
We also still send home physical letters when appropriate.
We send out a ‘Key Dates’ document at the beginning of every Term by Weduc/email.
We send out Class Newsletters at the beginning of every Term to give parents a view of what their child’s class will be learning that term. These are sent to parents by Weduc/email.
A senior member of staff will always be on the gate in the mornings to welcome children and parents into the school.
If you have a problem and would like to speak to a member of staff you it is suggested that you initially speak to your child’s class teacher prior to the Assistant/Deputy Headteacher then Headteacher. Any meetings will have to be made by appointment with at least 24 hours notice. You can book by calling or sending a Weduc message to the school. The Office Manager will then be able to book a time to speak to the correct member of staff as soon as possible.
Remember – if you have any concerns, problems or feedback for us please speak to us – tell us, not Facebook!
Our website is for prospective parents and the local community to find out more information about our school.
Our website contains:
- Statutory information
- Why parents should choose our school
- Useful information for new parents
- Gallery
Our facebook page is for current parents, prospective parents and the local community to find out what’s been going on at our school.
Our facebook page is used to celebrate our school, not to communicate important messages.
School Uniform
We have thought carefully about our school uniform and have chosen it to be comfortable and practical for primary aged children whilst also being affordable for families.
Our sweatshirt/cardigan is the only piece of school uniform where it is important that the School logo is present. These can only be purchased from the Mapac Online Shop where parents can choose to have orders delivered to the school free of charge.
This means that all other items of uniform/accessories can be purchased in supermarkets and/or local uniform shops, as well as the Mapac online shop.
Use the link below to purchase uniform from the Mapac online shop.
If you do not have access to a computer/internet, you can contact Mapac’s friendly team on 01923 255525.
If you have any queries before, during, or after placing your order call 01923 255525 or sales@mapac.net
Size Guide (Samples of uniform are available at the main office to try on)
We believe that our school uniform is a vital part of our school community, promoting a sense of belonging and neat appearance. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to uphold this standard. To better cater to our children’s comfort and individual needs, we’re excited to announce new alternative options to our uniform policy, effective from September 2023. These additions offer more flexibility while preserving the spirit of unity our uniforms bring. You can find these updates in our revised Uniform Policy, linked below. We’re confident that these changes will make our school an even more inclusive and welcoming environment for our children.
Use the link below to read our uniform policy.
The alternative uniform options for children are:
- As an alternative to black or grey trousers, children are allowed to wear plain black tracksuit bottoms.
- As an alternative to sensible black shoes, children are allowed to wear sensible black trainers.
- As an alternative to a PE kit, children are allowed to wear their regular school clothes instead, therefore a PE kit is optional.
We accept donations of second hand uniform, please visit the school office where you can see our collection!
School Meals
Our school meals are provided by Chartwells. At £2.45 per day, we offer a balanced and nutritious menu daily. To accompany our menu, there is a fresh salad bar every day where children are encouraged to try a variety of new foods.
If you pay for school meals this must be done in advance via the Parent Pay website/app.
You can find examples of our menus below, but for an up to date menu, please see the menu in the notices section of your Reach More Parents app.
School meals are a great choice, but if you do make a packed lunch for your child then get hints and tips on what their lunchbox should contain as well as lots of easy-to-prepare ideas your children will love from the change4life website.
Wrap around care
We recognise the importance of providing childcare options to assist working parents.
Richmond Academy is open from 7:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
As well as our Breakfast Club and After School Club, we offer a range of free Extra-Curricular Clubs every term that children can take part in after school.
Breakfast Club is booked by using our online booking system.
Breakfast club runs from 7:30am – 8:30am at the cost of £2.50 (£2.80 from 30th October 2023) per day. Children are offered a wide range of breakfast meals and use the space in the main hall to play games and spend time with their classmates.
We are proud to be in partnership with Magic Breakfast, providing healthy breakfasts to our pupils so that they are settled and ready to learn.
Magic Breakfast provides us with nutritious breakfast food to ensure children start their school day in the best possible way. Breakfast gives children the energy needed for the busy school morning, enabling them to focus on their lessons.
In addition to Breakfast Club, we offer FREE Bagels every morning to all children at our Breakfast Station! Look out for the Breakfast Station sign on your way into school and grab a Bagel!
Extra-Curricular Clubs are booked using an easy online booking system which parents get access to once they’re child has started at school.
Our After School Club runs Monday to Friday from 3:15pm until 4:30pm* at a price of £3.50
Our After School Club offers a wide range of activities for the children and provides drinks and a freshly prepared fruit snack for all children.
Payments must be made in advance, either termly, monthly, weekly or daily. There are no exceptions to this as it is essential that the club in self-financing.
Parents who are late collecting their child will incur an extra charge of £1 every 5 minutes past 4:30pm.
*should parents provide significant interest into extending After School Club till 6pm, the school will take actions to accommodate this.
We offer an extensive range of Extra Curricular clubs throughout the year which are booked by using our online booking system.
Please note that all clubs have a restricted number of places which are allocated on a strictly “first come, first served” basis.
The clubs start at 3.15pm and finish at 4.15pm.
Choices for clubs will be sent to parents every term.
Examples of clubs that we offer are:
- Sewing Club
- Football Club
- Library Club
- Karate Club
- Choir Club
- Film Club
- Homework Club
- Fit for life Club
- Science Club
- Technology Club
- Gardening Club
- Speed Stacking
- Cooking Club
- Design Club
- Creepy Claws
- Yoga Club
Our curriculum
At our school, we work hard to offer an exciting curriculum that helps students become caring, lifelong learners who are ready to make a positive difference in the world. Our curriculum focuses on several important areas:
- Teaching students about unfairness in the world and inspiring them to take action to improve it.
- Helping students understand their feelings and how to get along with people from different backgrounds.
- Encouraging students to think creatively and critically to solve problems by working together and using different subjects.
- Supporting students in learning at their own pace in a welcoming environment that values everyone’s uniqueness.
- Creating memorable learning experiences that students will remember and cherish.
- Preparing students for an unpredictable future by showing them how to use technology for learning.
- Using a mastery approach to help students gain a deep and lasting understanding of what they learn, which can be adapted as needed.
To view more information about our curriculum including a breakdown of curriculum subjects please view our curriculum page:
Timings of the school day/term dates
Over a school year, pupils are required to attend school for 190 days. Children do not come into school on Staff Development Days or Bank Holidays.
Richmond Primary School is open from 7.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday.
Compulsory times for children are 8.45am – 3.15pm which equates to 6 hours 30 minutes a day, or 32.5 hours per week.
8.45 – 9.00 9.00 – 9.10 9.10 – 9.30 9.30 – 9.45 9.45 – 11.30 10.40 – 10.50 11.30 – 11.45 11.45 – 12.00 12.00 – 1.00 1.00 – 1.15 1.15 – 2.45 2.45 – 3.00 3.15 | Child initiated learning and registration Handwriting Phonics Reading Teacher input and Child initiated learning inc. snack Playtime Reading Story Lunch Reading Teacher input and Child initiated learning Reflection time Story/songs/ Home time
|
Times | Comments |
08:45 | Latest student arrival time |
08:45am – 10:40am | Registration/Lessons |
10:40am – 10:55am | Break |
10:55am – 12:00pm | Lessons |
12:00pm – 12:55pm | Lunch |
12:55pm – 2:00pm | Lessons |
2.00pm – 2.15pm | KS1 Break (optional for KS2) |
2.15pm – 3.15pm | Lessons |
3.15pm | School Finishes |
Parent Support Advisor
We have an in-school PSA who can support parents both practically and emotionally with any issues they may have regarding their children and/or school.
Hello, I am Stuart Kemsley – Richmond Academy’s Parent Support Advisor.
I am here to support parents both practically and emotionally with any issues they may have regarding their children and/or school. I can offer support and guidance and also signpost to appropriate services.
You can contact me by calling 01795 662891
Foodbank
Every Thursday, 4pm – 6pm, we host Swale Foodbank’s very first Sheppey-based foodbank centre.
Richmond Academy is host to Swale Foodbank’s very first Sheppey-based foodbank centre.
The foodbank is open from 4pm-6pm every Thursday and is for anyone to attend – foodbank vouchers will be needed in order to get a food parcel.
Vouchers are available from schools rights across the island, local charities such as Porchlight and Imago, social services, Early Help, Citizens Advice Swale, CAP and other organisations such as Forward Trust and probation. If one of these can act as your referral agency, please speak to them directly and ask for a foodbank voucher. If you are unsure, then the Swale Foodbank team can advise on this – please call them on 07486 370709.
