Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering to read with the children at Sandfield Primary School. We really value your time and support in developing our children’s ability and confidence to read. It is a vital skill, which will unlock the rest of the curriculum for all, helping them to understand the world and to fire their imaginations. We have written the following guidance to support you, when hearing our children read. We hope that you find it useful.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS): In order to ensure that we provide a safe environment for the children in our care, it is a legal requirement that all adults working in school need to have an up-to-date ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check. If you do not have one, please speak to our office team.
Child Protection: If you have any concerns about a child’s safety or welfare, or a child discloses something of a sensitive nature to you, it is vital that you report it immediately to our Safeguarding team. These include:
Safeguarding Lead: Kate Collins (Headteacher)
Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Claire McIllroy (Deputy Headteacher)
Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Lucy Lidstrom (Home School Link Worker)
Timings: Before you start volunteering, please meet with the class teacher to arrange which day and time you will be in school and for them to let you know which children you will be reading with and how you can best help them. You may be in your child’s class or in another class.
Health & Safety: Sandfield Primary School has a Health and Safety policy available on the school website. In the event of a fire alarm, please take the child you are supporting to the playground via the nearest available exit and then to join their class line and teacher.
Mobile Phones: Please do not use your mobile phone in school. It should be switched off during the times that you are reading with the children.
Behaviour: At Sandfield Primary School, all of our children are expected to follow the rules of being ready, respectful and safe. If you are concerned by the behaviour of any child that you are reading with during your time in school, please inform the child’s class teacher immediately. Please do no directly deal with the child yourself.
Confidentiality: Whilst in school, you may become aware of information that is private to a child or their family. It is very important that you treat anything you hear or see in school with regard to particular children, as being in absolute confidence and entirely a matter for the school. Please do not share anything about specific children with friends or family or with a child’s parents, as this can lead to misunderstandings. The teachers here have the responsibility of informing parents of any concerns about a child.
