Come into school!

We often invite parents in for assemblies and other presentations. We also have a busy coffee morning which is a very friendly place to chat with other parents. In addition we host opportunities to practise using computers in partnership with adult education.

The office is staffed by:

Sam Hall is Finance and Staffing Manager, managing the schools budget and finance systems, staff records and overseeing the smooth running of the schools Administration Team.

Sherone Miller is School Secretary, she runs the front of house, manages attendance and pupil records

All of us are available during school times to help with any questions or problems you may have regarding your child.  If you would like a paper copy of any information on our website, please ask at the school office.

Parent Mail

Ferry Lane has recently signed up to use ParentMail and will now direct most communications with parents through this system.

All parents should have received an email or text to invite them to register. Please contact the office if you haven’t received this. To register or login please click here.

We’d like to encourage all parents to download our school App as there are a number of benefits both to you and for our school. The sort of messages we used to send via text will now come through ParentMail. Not only that but we will be sending out letters, the newsletter and all sorts of documents through the system as well. Having the App will make it quick and easy to access all of this information, rather than having to login via a computer.

To download the App for free, simply go to the Apple or Android store on your phone and search for Ferry Lane. Please note that you will need to complete the registration process first in order to access the App and you will need to login with your new account details. If you have previously been using the ParentMail App (e.g. if you have children at another school which uses it), you can continue using it, or simply delete it and download the School App. For more information please see this video.

If you have any difficulties in registering, downloading the App or using the system, then please contact the school office.

Our children look very smart in their official school uniform. School jumpers and cardigans can be bought at a very reasonable price from the school office.

PE kit is also available from the school office.

The phonics scheme we follow in Key Stage 1 is Letters and Sounds.  If you require further information please speak to our reading leader, Androulla Theodossiou.

The school sends homework on a regular basis and all children are expected to take their reading books home. Research has shown that reading at home to an adult on a regular basis helps children improve their Literacy skills (in any language). All children are provided with a home/ school bag in which to carry their work. A charge will be made should a book or bag be lost. Home-school books are in your child’s folders for you to share your progress and views on your child’s reading with the class teacher.

We believe that our partnership with parents is very important. We strongly encourage parents to read with their children every day. The home-school reading books we send home are the Collins Big Cat books and older children can choose books from a large selection in the class libraries. It’s a very good idea to ask your child questions about what you are reading together to check understanding. From time to time we run workshops for parents so you can find out about how teaching of phonics works and learn how to fit in your support for reading with school policy.

Pupils in Ferry Lane are now using Seesaw both in the classroom and to share at home. Seesaw is an online record of learning and allows pupils to access all kinds of materials to support work they do in the classroom. Please take the time to sign up and look through this with your child. You will receive a notification every time your child uploads some work or photos.
https://app.seesaw.me/#/login
If you have any problems accessing this or logging in please ask your child’s teacher.

Free School Meals

If you haven’t already filled in the application for free school meals please check the criteria below to see if your child might be eligible. The school receives £1320 per pupil entitled to free school meals which we can use for a number of developments including improvements to our playground, curriculum resources, furnishing the building and retaining and recruiting staff. If your child is in Reception, year 1 or year 2 they already receive a meal free of charge but please do still apply for free school meals because Ferry Lane Primary School will receive the funding to contribute to the projects mentioned before. If you need any support with the application please do not hesitate to contact Mr Hall or Miss Miller and they will be happy to help you with the process

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Universal Credit

Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (ie they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get free school meals.

Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be able to get free school meals.

Parent View

Parent View gives you the chance to tell Ofsted what you think about your child’s school, from the quality of teaching to dealing with bullying and poor behaviour. The survey can be completed at any time; you don’t have to wait until the school is being inspected.

Ofsted will use the information you provide when making decisions about which schools to inspect and when.

Click here to register and complete a survey to help your child’s school improve.

Ferry Lane has a number of volunteers (parents or members of the local community) who come in to help our children with learning, especially with reading. We also have volunteers who help with supervision on trips out of school.

There are regular inductions for volunteers and anyone interested in attending one of these can get further information from the school office.

As part of our Safeguarding Policy and strong commitment to the protection of our children, all volunteers will need Disclosure and Barring Service police clearance.