Parent Essentials

Communicating a student absence is now quicker and easier for you through Class Charts. Instead of having to call the school office, you can report an absence directly through the app or website.

📱 How to Report an Absence

Reporting an absence through Class Charts ensures the information reaches the right staff members immediately.

1. Open the App: Log into your Class Charts Parent account on your phone or computer.

2. Select 'Absences': Look for the "Absences" tab in the main menu.

3. Submit a Report: Click on "Report New Absence."

4. Details: Enter the date, the reason for the absence, and any extra information our team might need.

5. Attachments: If your child has a medical appointment, you can even upload a photo of the appointment card or letter directly to the report.

🕒 Why Use Class Charts?

• Speed: It takes less than a minute to complete.

• Tracking: You can see a history of your child's attendance and past absences in one place.

• Direct Contact: The information goes straight to the Year Leader and Pastoral Manager, who monitor attendance and punctuality for the whole year group.

📞 Other Important Information

While Class Charts is the preferred method, the school will still use ParentMail to send you a text or email if your child is marked absent and we haven't heard from you yet.

Communication is vital during your child’s first year at secondary school. To ensure your questions reach the right person quickly, we have a clear support structure in place.

🎒 Your First Points of Contact

For most day-to-day information or initial concerns, please reach out to one of the following staff members:

• The Form Tutor: They meet your child every morning for registration and will know them most thoroughly throughout their time at the school. You can maintain contact with them through your child’s Student Planner.

• The Pastoral Manager: They oversee the well-being and behavior of the entire Year 7 group. If you have concerns about your child's happiness or social life at school, they are the primary person to speak or write to.

• The Year Leader: They are experts in your child's development, monitoring everything from achievement and progress to attendance and punctuality.

🏢 The School Office

Our office staff are available to help with specific administrative needs:

• Technical Support: If you are having trouble logging into Class Charts, ParentMail, or MyChildAtSchool, the office team can help get you back online.

• Emergency Messages: The office can pass on urgent messages to your child. However, please note they cannot pass on non-urgent messages (like forgotten PE kits or change of after-school plans) to avoid disrupting lessons.

🔝 Escalating a Concern

We aim to resolve most issues through the Tutor or Year Team. However, if a situation requires further attention:

• Assistant Headteacher (KS3): If an issue needs to be escalated beyond the Year Leader, the Assistant Headteacher for Key Stage 3 is available to support.

🕒 Response Times

While we value a strong partnership with you, our staff prioritise their time for teaching and supporting students during the school day, which means they cannot always respond to emails immediately. To manage this, we aim to acknowledge all messages within 24 hours and provide a full, detailed response within 3 school days. For daily updates, please use your child’s Student Planner to message the Form Tutor, and for urgent emergencies, contact the School Office directly by phone.

Staying informed about the school calendar is the best way to ensure your child is prepared for the year ahead. You can find all the essential information on the Prendergast Ladywell School website:

https://www.prendergast-ladywell.com/

🗓️ Where to Find Key Dates

To help you plan, we keep the most important and up-to-date information easily accessible:

• Scrolling Announcements: Check the front page of our website for a scrolling banner that features urgent updates, such as specific "back to school" dates and upcoming INSET days.

• Term Dates: You can find the full academic calendar, including half-terms and bank holidays, in the information section of the site https://www.prendergast-ladywell.com/204/term-dates 

• Regular Checks: We recommend checking the website regularly to stay informed about any changes to the schedule.

Our school is a Mobile Free Zone and will continue to be so.

Our Curriculum is Phone-Free

We want to reassure you that students do not require a mobile phone or smartphone for any part of our curriculum. Our classrooms are fully equipped with the technology and resources necessary for high-quality learning. By removing the distraction of personal devices, we ensure that students can focus entirely on their studies and face-to-face interactions with their peers and teachers.

Prioritising Student Wellbeing

Our policy is guided by a growing body of evidence suggesting that a break from digital connectivity significantly benefits young people. Research increasingly shows that students who spend less time on smartphones often experience:

• Improved Mental Health: Reduced exposure to the pressures of social media and "always-on" digital culture.

• Better Focus and Memory: Lower levels of digital distraction lead to deeper engagement and better information retention.

• Enhanced Social Skills: Students are encouraged to develop stronger real-world relationships and communication skills during break times.

• Higher Quality Sleep: A reduction in screen time, particularly in the evenings, is linked to better rest and overall wellbeing.

Practical Arrangements

We understand that many parents appreciate their children having a phone for the journey to and from school. We ask that if a phone is brought to school, it remains switched off and out of sight in accordance with our specific site rules.

Should you need to reach your child urgently during the school day, or if they need to contact you, our school office remains the primary and most reliable point of contact.

"Our goal is to protect the sanctuary of the classrooms and the free spaces, allowing students the 'right to disconnect' and simply be themselves."

Registering for Free School Meals (FSM) can save you up to £500 per year and ensures your child receives a healthy lunch every day. It also helps the school receive vital extra funding to support our students.

📝 Am I Eligible?

You may qualify for Free School Meals if you receive any of the following:

• Universal Credit: Provided your annual net earned income is no more than £7,400.

• Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

• The guarantee element of Pension Credit.

• Child Tax Credit: Provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190.

• Working Tax Credit run-on: Paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

Important: If you receive regular Working Tax Credit, you do not qualify for Free School Meals.

💻 How to Apply (New Applications Required)

Because the previous eligibility period has ended, all parents must now submit a new application via Lewisham Council to ensure their child is covered for the new school year.

• Re-applying: Even if your child received free meals at their previous school, you must apply again now that they are starting at Prendergast Ladywell.

• Apply Online: Visit the Lewisham Parent Portal to complete your application: https://schools.lewisham.gov.uk/parentportal/.

We understand that there are rare occasions when a student may need to leave school before the final bell. However, to ensure your child doesn't miss out on vital learning, we ask that you follow these guidelines:

✅ Authorised Absences Only

Students should not leave school early unless it is for an authorised appointment, such as a medical visit that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours. We encourage you to make these appointments after school or during the holidays whenever possible to minimise disruption to their education.

📱 How to Notify the School

If your child needs to leave early, please inform us as soon as possible:

• Class Charts: Use the "Absences" or messaging feature on Class Charts to provide the date, time, and reason for the early departure.

• Evidence: Where possible, please upload a photo of the appointment card or letter directly to the Class Charts report.

🚶 Leaving the Building

For safety and safeguarding reasons, you must clearly specify the following in your message:

• Unaccompanied: If you give permission for your child to leave the school premises on their own.

• Collection: If you will be meeting them at the Front Office to sign them out.

Please Note: Students are not permitted to leave the school site during the day without a verified notification from a parent or carer and having signed out at the school office