The Parents' Handbook

Parent and Child Group

For children up to Kindergarten age, these groups are facilitated by experienced early childhood practitioners with the support of the parents who attend the sessions. The aim is to nurture and support both the adults and the children, and to ease the transition from home to school life. Groups are held in the Parent and Child Group building, near Apple Tree Kindergarten.

Emphasis is on simplicity, homeliness, repetition, imitation and imagination.

Sessions take place on

Mondays to Thursdays 10.00am - 12.00pm
Mondays and Wednesdays 1.10pm - 3.10pm
Fridays 9.30am - 11.30am (Forest Walk sessions)

Parents wishing to attend should complete the application form available on the school website under Early Years - Parent and Child. There are waiting lists for places in some of the groups so parents are advised to apply and place their child’s name on the waiting list as soon as possible to ensure a place is available by the time their child is ready to attend.  

Progression to kindergarten requires a separate admission application and is not automatic. Parents are therefore advised to ensure that their child is on the school’s waiting list if they wish to apply for a place in the Kindergarten.

Kindergarten

The Kindergarten has a seasonal curriculum, and follows the rhythms of nature throughout the year. The weekly rhythm includes special activities for each day such as baking day or painting day. The daily rhythm flows between adult led activities and child led creative play; a time during which children form friendships and learn social skills such as sharing and turn-taking.

Kindergarten groups are made up of children from age three to six years, and morning and afternoon sessions are held Monday to Friday. A three to four year old child will usually begin with three mornings a week. This will build up to five mornings a week plus some afternoons, according to the child’s age and needs, which are assessed by the Kindergarten Teacher in consultation with the parents. Children should be attending at least five mornings a week by the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday as this constitutes compulsory school age. In their final year of Kindergarten, children all attend the Stepping Stones afternoon session.

Kindergarten morning hours are 8.25am - 12:45pm Mondays to Fridays. Teachers are there to receive the children from 8.15am. Prior arrangements should be made if your child arrives before this time.

Kindergarten afternoon hours are 12:45pm to 3:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 12:45pm to 2pm on Thursdays. 

Hours for Classes One to Eight

Classes One to Eight begin lessons promptly at 8.25am and children should arrive between 8.00am and 8.25am to ensure a timely and relaxed start to the day. It is essential that children are punctual for the start of the day and parents are asked to support this.

All classes break for lunch at 1:00pm and classes that do not have afternoon sessions finish then (please see below).

Classes One to Five have afternoon sessions finishing at 3:30pm on the following days: 

Class One: Wednesday

Class Two: Monday and Wednesday

Class Three: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Class Four: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Class Five: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Classes Six, Seven, and Eight have full days all week finishing at 3:30pm

Upper School

The Upper School Classes begin at 8.25am and end at 3.30pm.  Lunch break is from 1.00pm to 1.50pm. Parents of Upper School students should note that in order to accommodate the curriculum, the Upper School may, from time to time, schedule an extra week of schooling (sometimes during school holidays) which will be notified before the start of the school year.

Children arriving before 8.00am remain the responsibility of their parents.

In the afternoons, it is necessary that children leave the school premises as soon as possible after school finishes. Parents should pick up pupils promptly at the end of the school day. Children should not be on site unless they have an approved reason for being there. Approved reasons include the duration of a private music lessons. Parents who are helping around the school should delegate the supervision of any accompanying children to a named person who is not engaged in any other task. Normal school rules continue to apply as well as Health and Safety provisions and parents who are supervising should be aware of these, e.g. no kicking of balls in the courtyard.

Afternoon Session

In recognition of the needs and wishes of some parents, and dependent on demand, the school provides additional afternoon sessions until 3.30pm for children in Kindergarten and/or Classes 1 to 5. Afternoon sessions are currently provided on Monday to Friday in lower school and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday until 3.30pm and on Thursday until 2.00pm in Kindergarten. 

There is no charge for afternoon sessions for children in Classes 1 to 5, however, afternoon sessions in kindergarten are a chargeable extra.  Please speak to the office or see the Contribution Information sheet for costs. Booking forms for the afternoon sessions are sent out in the summer term for the following academic year and must be booked in advance. Some casual and ‘ad hoc’ sessions may be available throughout the year. Please speak to the office. 

The office is open daily on Mondays to Fridays from 8.15am to 3.30pm. If you have business in the office you will need to complete it before 3.30pm.  The office will be locked when a member of staff is not in attendance.

When the office is closed the answer phone will be on.  All phone messages are cleared regularly.  If the reception staff are not available, the school bursar or administrator may be able to help you.  Please note that if their door is closed, they are either out or in a meeting and should not be disturbed except in an emergency. 

Much of the business conducted in the rear office and general office is of a confidential nature.  Please respect the office space and do not enter unless invited.

All absences and lateness are recorded in the class registers and form part of a student’s educational record. Instances of persistent lateness are reported to the Safeguarding and Management Team and you may be asked to meet with a group of Management representatives to discuss and agree a strategy to ensure timely attendance.

Punctuality

Punctuality is of the utmost importance and is taken seriously.  Please ensure your children are not late for school. Late arrivals into class are very disruptive and educationally, punctuality is part of learning personal responsibility.          

Lateness procedure

The register is called as soon as class starts and this is then collated in the office so that all children can be accounted for. It is important that the school knows who is on the site at all times. Children arriving late (after the bell) must report to the office before going to their classroom.

Please remind your child or go to the office yourself to ensure that your child has been signed in to the register.  If the office receives no notification of a late child, the staff will ring or email the parents to establish the whereabouts of the child.

Attendance

In Waldorf Education continuity is a vital factor: subjects are taught in blocks that often build one upon the other, so that experiences missed are not easily made up at another time. All children are expected to attend for a full school year and when the school is open for instruction, except for absences due to medical reasons. 

Please do not arrange for holidays to be taken in term time. 

The law requires that parents ensure that all children of compulsory school age receive a full-time education and that they attend when the school is open for instruction. At Ringwood Waldorf School we regard any unnecessary absence as educationally detrimental. As our scheduled holidays are significantly longer than in state schools, and because we have a shorter school year, we are unable to authorise pupils to be absent during term time. Ringwood Waldorf School has a 34-week year against a state school year of 38 weeks. Any absences will therefore be recorded as unauthorised in the Local Education Authority Registers. Registers are inspected during all school OFSTED inspections. 

Procedure for Reporting an Absence
When a child is absent because of illness, the school must be notified before school begins (and no later than 8.30am via an email sent to registers@ringwoodwaldorfschool.org.uk or by phoning the school office and leaving a message on the answering machine. If a reliable message is not received the parent(s) or guardian(s) will be contacted by the school following the taking of the register. Parents will also be contacted if the school does not know that the child will be late and if they have not arrived by the time the register is called.

You should notify the office each day that your child is ill by emailing registers@ringwoodwaldorfschool.org.uk stating the reasons for the absence.  School recommends that parents allow 48 hours after vomiting before allowing children back at school.

Authorised and Unauthorised absence (see Attendance and Punctuality Policy)

• The law states that the school day must be in two sessions. This will normally involve separate morning and afternoon sessions.
• Attendance registers have to be called at the beginning of the morning session and once during the afternoon session. Schools also have to record in their registers whether an absence of a day pupil of compulsory school age is authorised or unauthorised and the reason for the absence.
• Authorised absence is absence which has been authorised by an authorised representative of the school (School Management Team). Parents or guardians may provide an explanation for a particular absence, but only the school can authorise it 
• Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from an authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences and truancy. Please note that individual teachers cannot authorise an absence.      

Leaving during school hours

Pupils in the Kindergarten, Lower and Middle School are not allowed to leave the site during school hours unless arrangements have been made in advance by the parent(s) with the school. Where this is necessary the Class Teacher and office should be informed and the office must be notified when the child leaves the site. Parents/caregivers collecting a child should advise the office BEFORE collecting the child. No child will be allowed to leave unless collected and accompanied by a parent or authorised guardian (or a person authorised in writing previously by the parent or authorised guardian).

The office must be informed when a child returns to school during the day/school hours so that the school is aware which children are on site.

Please inform the office of any changes to addresses, emails or phone numbers.

Emergency calls

The office telephone may be used by parents to make emergency calls with the permission of a staff member. Pupils require written permission from their Class Teacher during school hours to use the school phone. School phones may not be used by pupils to make social arrangements. After school care and play arrangements must be made in advance with the child before school commences in the morning. 

Mobile Phones

The school is a mobile free zone. Mobile phones are allowed to be brought onto school premises only by Class 8 pupils and above and must be switched off and kept in the office at all times during the school day. They may only be used after 3.30pm and off school premises. The same rule applies at all school based events and trips. Any infringement of this may result in confiscation.

Parents, guardians and visitors are also asked to avoid using their mobile phones on the school grounds.  

Messages for pupils and staff

The office will take messages for pupils in emergencies only and use its best endeavours to ensure they are delivered. Parents should note that it is not always possible to deliver a message at the end of the day and that requests regarding changes to pickups and after school arrangements will not be accepted except in emergency situations such as a car breakdown. The office advises parents to contact each other directly to re-arrange pick-ups or changes in routine.

Parents should use the Class Teacher’s email address to contact their Class Teachers directly.  Messages for staff can be taken in the office and, unless the message is of an urgent nature, will be sent to the staff member’s email address. Please note that it may be some time before the staff member checks their emails and receives the message. 

General notices of events will be placed in the newsletter and/or placed on the blackboard or notice board outside the office or emailed to parents. 

Each class has a Class Parent and an official Class messaging group such as Whatsapp or email. This will be used to inform parents specifically about school matters such as parents’ evenings, festivals and class events. Parents that are not part of the WhatsApp group will be informed by email.

Parking and Traffic Movement On-Site

General parking

Children on foot and moving traffic do not go well together and should be minimised. 

Parking is available in the car park and parking times should be minimised to allow space for others.  Please do not park in the Lantern car-parking spaces unless you are intending to visit the Lantern Centre.

Please do not park in the lane or beyond the car park as this blocks access for emergency services. The school or the Lantern may have to call the police to have offending cars removed.

Overflow parking is occasionally permitted in the back playground in the afternoons after school (3.30pm) and on special occasions as notified.  Please do not park in the back playground at lunchtime as this restricts the children’s ability to exercise and play during their lunch break. The school cannot accept responsibility for cars left in the car park during break and lunchtime or at any festivals or school events. 

Traffic movement is circular in a clockwise direction on the site and speed is limited to 5 mph.

We ask that all drivers take special care when manoeuvring on the site. 

The disabled driver's bay is strictly reserved for disabled people. Please park only in the marked spaces and NOT near the office in the unmarked areas. This area is required at all times for emergency services and deliveries and is not for parking in. 

Please do not park in the staff parking area behind the hall as this may delay teachers and staff getting to classes and the office on time.

Kindergarten parking and access. Classes 1, 2 and 3

The entrance to the Kindergartens is through the access gate from the car park into the classes 1,2 and 3 playground and along the formed pathway. Please stay on the pathway as older children may be playing and not be aware that younger children are present. Entrance and pick-up for classes 1.2.3 is also through this gate and not from the courtyard. There is no access to the Kindergarten from the back courtyard and this gate will be locked while the kindergarten is in session. 

Children should be picked up straight after school and not asked to go to the Lantern Centre by themselves to be picked from there. This is particularly unsafe for younger children. If you wish to go to the Lantern Centre please pick your child up first and then go together. 

Walking and Cycling

The school wishes to be environmentally responsible and to encourage all safe means of transport, in particular where it reduces the number of cars on the roads. Lift sharing is encouraged as is also the practice of parking some distance away from the school and walking.  This really does help the children prepare for their day.

We wish to point out to parents that, while we support walking and cycling to school, the slip road into the school is busy and can be dangerous and children should be supervised at all times. Please wear helmets if cycling.  There is parking available on the grounds for bikes. Please ensure a lock is supplied for your bike.

The Castleman Trailway is an all-weather track and is suitable for cycling and as an alternative access. The security gate will be opened during drop-off and pick-up times to allow access. It will be locked at all other times.

The school does not support children hitch-hiking to or from school.  Younger children should not be travelling to and from school by themselves at any time.

The school is required by law for security and safety reasons to know who is on the site at all times, what their purpose on site is and when they leave. This applies equally to all adults as well as children. This is of vital importance, especially in the case of fire and safeguarding.

Anyone entering or leaving the site for any reason once school has started for the day must inform the office, signing their name in and out of the office book on the counter.  This includes staff, parents, pupils, and peripatetic music teachers. All visitors must wear a lanyard while in the school so they can be identified. Any visitors or parents on site without a badge may be challenged by a member of staff.

We request that parents support site security by following the correct pick-up and drop-off procedures, i.e. Kindergarten and Classes 1,2,3 are dropped off and picked up via the 1,2,3 garden/playground and not through the courtyard or back gate.  Children attending Classes 4 and above should be dropped off and picked up at the blue gate at the main entrance for children to make their own way to their classroom. 

We also ask that all parents and children enter and leave by the main gate. This should also apply if you are visiting the Lantern Centre. Please note that the school may not be used as a thoroughfare for this purpose.

The school lockup can occur any time after 4.00 pm. Anyone entering any space or facility after this time assumes responsibility for securing that space or facility whether or not it was locked when they entered. (This also applies to music teachers).

You may therefore need to arrange for a key from the office in order to do this.   Please note that the lockup includes windows, fire egress doors and lobby doors.

In the Kindergarten, a morning snack and lunch for afternoon sessions is provided by the school.  In the Kindergarten Thursday Lunch Club, and from Class 1 and above, children should bring in their own mid-morning snack as well as a packed-lunch. Food should be simple, balanced and nutritious. The school is supportive of appropriate diets for children as it has been shown that many learning and behaviour problems arise from inappropriate diets. Recent research has again confirmed this.

Please avoid party food such as chocolate and crisps. Chewing gum, sweets, coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and energy drinks are not allowed.

Please note that we are a peanut-free school. 

Birthdays are celebrated in the class and children often bring a treat, such as a home-made cake to share, at the discretion of the Teacher. Please discuss this with your child’s Teacher first.

Children have growing bodies and busy school schedules and need regular and ample relaxation and sleep. Sleep is seen as being formative as well as restorative and is regarded as an integral part of the education at Ringwood Waldorf School because of its pedagogical influences. We ask parents to ensure that their children are in bed at a reasonable and regular hour. This routine also helps a child feel secure which in turn aids their confidence. The school feels strongly that arrangements for children to stay overnight with friends are only appropriate at weekends. Such visits often involve staying up late, which can lead to an over-tiredness that is disruptive to the child’s school work.

Toys, electronic games, swap cards, skateboards, roller blades and so on should be left at home for pedagogical reasons. A comforting soft doll or soft toy could be an exception for younger children by arrangement with the relevant teacher. Any item brought to school may be confiscated until the end of the day or, in persistent cases until the end of term.

Balls and other play equipment are made available for the children to use at school during supervised breaks. This equipment is suitable for use in the school environment and we ask that you do not bring other balls onto the site.

MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY GUIDANCE

At Ringwood Waldorf School we aim to provide our students with opportunities to engage creatively and responsibly with digital technology. In the Waldorf Schools movement we believe that in order for this to happen, children need to be introduced to these technologies gradually and at an appropriate age. We recognise that in order for our students to develop healthy robust bodies, balanced and well-integrated brains, confidence in their real-world practical skills, and strong executive-function capabilities, it is imperative that students primarily interact with one another and their teachers, and work with real materials as much as possible. Our school intentionally develops students and their personal capacity for agency by exploring the world of ideas, participating in the arts, music, movement and practical activities. Their understanding and mastery of technology develops from a solid foundation of hands-on activity and problem solving.

The role of digital technology is central in modern life, and growing research indicates that too much screen time is fundamentally affecting our children. Many of those effects are adverse, no matter how good or educational the content of the programme. Teachers observe that excessive exposure to television, mobile phones and other electronic media significantly shortens the attention span of pupils, stifles the imagination and reduces initiative, patience and perseverance. We therefore discourage young children from using mobile phones, watching television and using electronic games and media. We also strongly recommend that social networking sites are completely out of bounds for younger children and that no child, of any age, is exposed to electronic media in the morning before school or in the hour preceding bedtime as it negatively affects the quality of sleep. Electronic media devices should be kept away from the bedroom and not used alone, and instead used in a shared area of the home. 

Electronic media use exposes children to the coercive use of advertising. When exposed too young, the child is unable to discern for themselves what is driving their feeling of need. There is a safeguarding risk in children accessing online games, chat rooms and communication via social media and messaging apps (TikTok, WhatsApp, Snapchat etc), many of which are rated age 16+. Everyone who works with or cares for children has an obligation to keep them safe. Children are not fully equipped to navigate this world of technology at a young age. They are vulnerable to cyber bullying, grooming and seeing inappropriate content which once seen cannot be unseen. In addition, the restricted interaction between a child and a screen, where a child is passively consuming content and not co-creating their reality, can undermine the child’s own creativity. Computer games can be particularly habit-forming and draw the child away from real life experiences. In the context of the Waldorf curriculum, which works so strongly in the child’s imaginative realm, the exposure to television and other electronic media is particularly counter-productive and works against the child’s education. 

We recognise that, whilst at home, a child's exposure to electronic and other media lies in the domain of the family. It is therefore parents and carers who must decide what role television and other media play in your children’s lives. However, if the child’s teacher or guardian considers that media use is significantly undermining the healthy development of the child, or the class, this will be brought to the attention of the parents or carers of the children concerned for discussion. Parents and carers should speak to their child’s class teacher, kindergarten teacher, or class guardian - either privately or in parents evenings - about their questions and challenges related to media, so that together we can work out viable approaches. It is very much the wish of the school that parents who bring their children to our Waldorf School will understand and support the school's policy on media and technology.

Further to this, please also be aware that RWS is a Mobile Free Zone for parents, carers, and teachers as well as pupils. Please refer to our Digital Media Devices (Staff, Volunteers and Visitors) Policy.

Early Years

Children enrolled in the Kindergarten at Ringwood Waldorf School should be given the gift of a media-free childhood. Kindergarten children should not watch television programmes or films, play video games, or use electronic devices. Additionally, exposure to radio, audiobooks and recorded music should be limited and age appropriate. We encourage parents to keep an open and honest dialogue with their child’s kindergarten teacher about their individual circumstances, and teachers are available and willing to assist with reducing screen time and transitioning to a media-free environment in a manageable way. 

Lower and Middle School - Class 1 to Class 8

The experience of electronic media can have negative effects on children’s learning and development in the Lower School to Middle School. It can also have a detrimental effect on the class dynamic creating a ‘those who do and those who do not’ situation. Children bring their media experiences into the classroom where it can be quite overwhelming for others. Therefore we ask that access to screens and digital technology is avoided. 

Activity on social networking sites and apps should be avoided as children may well become exposed to inappropriate material. It should also be noted that teachers are not permitted to be 'friends' with students on social networking sites nor be in contact through messaging services. 

We understand that in some situations it can be difficult to avoid access to screens and digital technology. We propose the following suggestions for managing the children's use of television, games and other electronic media.

1. Access to electronic media should be avoided. 
2. Arrange viewing limits, including what can be watched and for how long.
3. Parents/carers should, if possible, watch with the children.
4. Avoid screens in the child’s bedroom.
5. Avoid use of portable digital devices (mobile phones, ipads) particularly with access to social networking and video sites e.g. WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok etc.
6. The telling or reading of bedtime stories is a good way of preparing children for a healthy night's sleep, with no screen use in the hour before bedtime.

As children grow older, television and other media may play a gradually increasing, but hopefully modest part in their lives. It is therefore important to practise regulation with regard to the exposure of young people’s minds and senses to modern visual and electronic culture. We suggest that the use of electronic media should be agreed beforehand and take place in the company of family and friends, and not in their own room.

Upper School

RWS has a separate Digital Media Devices in School Policy within the Online Safety Policy for Classes 8-12 which clarifies in specific detail how, what, where and when DMDs can be used at school. 

RWS recognises that teenagers are eager to embrace the modernity of the world they will step into as adults. Our aim is to help them to develop the skills and understanding that provide for mature and discerning use of the new technologies. A familiarity with all the technologies that surround us and influence our lives is an essential part of a complete education. In the Upper School curriculum, Waldorf education embraces technology in ways that enhance the learning process, by using it as a tool, rather than replace the role of the teacher, and pupils quickly master the technology.

At Ringwood Waldorf School, digital devices and electronic whiteboards are not used in the classroom until Class 9 for similar reasons. In Waldorf schools generally, computer studies are regarded as an Upper School subject (starting in Class 9). Classes 7 and 8 may use calculators and electronic spell checkers after the underlying processes have been understood. Children with learning differences may be supported with digital devices in the learning support lesson in the middle and upper school (Class 6-12).

Parents should be assured that children are not disadvantaged educationally by this policy and, in fact, some ex-pupils have chosen to go on to successfully study computer sciences and also to follow careers in programming, graphic arts and web design.

The school has information available to support parents in understanding its position on this matter and periodic talks are given on the subject. While it is appreciated that these views may be seen to be at variance with some mainstream opinions, the policy we have adopted is based on informed educational experience and understanding of child development needs.

We therefore ask that parents support our educational aims by adhering to the school’s recommendations in this area.

Please see the School Rules for our school dress code.

All pupils must attend school with the following items:

Note: All items should be clearly labelled with the child’s name.

Kindergarten

• Comfortable, practical clothing which is clean at the beginning of each day, in good repair, and appropriate to the season and activity. 
• Jumper/cardigan: Needed in kindergarten all year round.
• Shoes/boots: Outdoor footwear should be practical, well-fitting and offer appropriate protection from weather and terrain; enclosed sturdy shoes and boots for winter, lightweight shoes for summer, with closed toe sandals permitted for dry summer days. If your child has lace up shoes, please support their learning process by modelling tying laces at home. 
• Slippers: Please provide indoor shoes or slippers to be kept in kindergarten, which children will change into on arrival at kindergarten each morning. Slippers/indoor shoes must be well-fitting with heels and toes covered, and stay on as the child goes about their kindergarten day.
• Coat: A warm coat must be worn to and from kindergarten every day between October and April, and a lighter jacket or thick fleece must be available to be worn every day in warmer months. 
• Waterproofs: A waterproof jacket with hood, and waterproof over-trousers or dungarees, are essential for outdoor play. They must be kept in kindergarten during term time, even in the summer months.
• Wellington boots: These are required in kindergarten all year round, and a pair must be left in kindergarten during term time.
• Spare clothes: A spare set of clothes needs to be kept in a bag on the child’s peg in the lobby with spare socks/tights and underwear, bottoms and tops and an extra warm layer, e.g. cardigan or jumper. 
• Hats: A hat is needed in kindergarten every day: Warm hats are needed in the colder months, and sun hats are needed in the brighter months. We suggest wide brimmed sun hats which cover the back of the neck.
• Gloves are required in winter, and extra warm socks can help keep toes warm in wellington boots.
• Smarter clothes for festivals: On festival days, we ask that children wear smart clothes that are suitable for the special occasion but also still practical for play.

Clothing must be fit for purpose, washable, and suitable for play and kindergarten activities.

Classes One to Four

• A painting shirt
• Wellington boots
• A raincoat with a hood or separate rain hat
• A warm hat during winter and a sun hat for summer.
• A pair of indoor shoes – plimsolls not slippers.
• An extra set of clothes in a bag to be kept at school
• A cloth drawstring bag, clearly named, for Eurythmy shoes.

Classes Five to Eight

• A raincoat with a hood or separate rain hat.
• A fountain pen. Please await your teacher’s instructions before acquiring this.
• A corrector pen. Please await your teacher’s instructions before acquiring this.
• 12 good quality soft coloured pencils such as Derwent or Caran d’ache (not water soluble).
• A cloth drawstring bag, clearly named, for Eurythmy shoes.

Games Kit

Classes Three to Ten 

Note: Please speak to your child's Teacher about games kit requirements. 

• T-shirt
• Sweatshirt
• Tracksuit bottoms
• Shorts
• Trainers (from Class 5 upwards)
• A bag (not plastic) to keep the games kit in and not too big please.
• Classes 5, 6, 7, 8 and Upper School – a gum shield is compulsory for playing hockey.

Please also refer to Section Two: School Rules for further information on the dress code.

It is the custom in Waldorf Schools, and an integral part of Waldorf life, to celebrate! The new morning is celebrated daily; Mondays and Fridays are celebrated as is the beginning of a new term and the end along with birthdays, seasons, festivals, and much more.

To celebrate is to awaken awareness to the specialness of a particular moment and to bring light and joy into the lives of the children; a very, very vital part of the teachers' task. When we celebrate something ostensibly mundane like the morning, we bring joy to the start of the day and we can remember that every day is a new beginning and a fresh start. Some children more than others need to experience this! Birthdays should also be more than fun as they celebrate the life of each uniquely special child.

Wonder, awe and reverence are moods we bring to the celebration of the festivals. These are moods every child needs to experience, particularly our modern children who live in a world where there is so little of any of these. 

Talk of festivals brings up the subject of religion which can arouse quite strong feelings. Although Steiner embedded his education in Christianity, and we celebrate the Christian festivals, we are also free to celebrate other festivals such as Diwali, the Indian Festival of Light. Steiner believed that his philosophy 'Anthroposophy' could embrace all beliefs and many experience this to be true. 

Festivals through the year include:

Autumn Term

• Michaelmas
• Martinmas
• Diwali
• Advent and Christmas

Spring/Summer Terms

• • Candlemas
  • Holi
  • Spring Festival
  • Whitson
  • Ascension
  • St John’s Festival

Friday Assemblies are also held throughout the year.  Details are sent out via the school Newsletter and the Class Parents.

Festival Dress

For many of the festivals, we ask that children wear ‘festival dress’ (unless otherwise specified) which is a white top and dark trousers or a skirt.  Please check with your Class Parent or the office if you are unsure. 

Please see Appendix Two for some extracts from earlier school magazines which give further information on specific celebrations and how the teachers work with the festivals. However, the best way to find out is to participate and most festive events are open to parents.  Dates and times will be found in the weekly Newsletter.

Ringwood Waldorf School has a Learning Support Department which considers the individual learning needs of each class and of each pupil. Learning Support is coordinated by the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator).

The Learning Support Department coordinates the following provisions:

Remedial 

The Learning Support Teachers are able to offer some individual remedial lessons. This is limited however by the overall needs of the whole school. In addition, Learning Support Classroom Assistants may work with individual children in the classrooms or in small groups for literacy and numeracy. Referrals to learning support lessons are through the Class Teacher. Parents with any concerns should first approach their child’s teacher rather than the SENCo directly. In some instances, the school might also advise a parent to seek additional support outside the school.

Parents of children joining the school after Class 1 may be asked to arrange separate private learning support lessons as a condition of admission if their child has specific learning needs.

Therapies

There may be occasions when Learning Support will recommend additional curative or therapeutic work for a child in consultation with the SENCo and Class Teacher. In this case, parents will need to arrange this privately or, if there are a number of children who will benefit from a particular therapy, the school will endeavour to arrange this and pass the cost on to parents. Parents will always be consulted first. The therapies that may be considered include Art Therapy, Speech Therapy, or Curative Eurythmy.

Assessments  

Whole class assessments are carried out in Classes 2, 4 and 6 each year and this information informs both individual learning needs as well as the needs of the class as a whole. Where additional individual assessment is indicated this will be advised to parents by the SENCo.  Reviews occur annually for classes 3, 5 and 7.

Regular contact between parents and their child’s teacher is vital to Waldorf Education. Parent evenings are held at least once a term for the parents of each class and, because of their importance, all parents are expected to attend these meetings as part of their commitment to the education.

The school considers your attendance at these meetings to be of the utmost importance to the educational process and for this reason attendance is a condition of admission.

Please ensure that you plan well in advance for these meetings so that you can attend. The Parent Evening dates are published in the calendar (in the office), in class emails and in the school newsletter. If you are unable to attend your child’s Class Parent Evening for any reason, please let the Class Teacher know not to expect you. 

At these meetings, parents will be able to hear what their children have been learning and how this links to the developmental stage of their child. They will also be able to look at their child’s work. Questions and issues relevant to the whole class can also be on the agenda.

Individual meetings may also be arranged to discuss your child and these can be initiated either by the parent or the teacher.

Parents of children who join the school in Class Five or later and who do not have an elementary proficiency in the language(s) being taught will be asked to arrange private lessons for their child so that they may settle into the class more smoothly.

Children from Kindergarten to Class 12 receive a written report at the end of each academic year. This report endeavours to give both parent and child a full picture of the child’s academic and social development.

Teachers keep running records of pupils’ progress and both formative and summative assessments are carried out periodically to ensure that pupils are making appropriate progress for their cohort. Some tests may be introduced from Class 5 or 6 during Main Lessons as a good and appropriate challenge for the children

Teachers at Ringwood Waldorf School are also uniquely aware of the needs of individual pupils because they stay with the pupils as they progress through the classes.

Pupils in the Upper School receive two reports a year; a half year report in March and an end of year report at the end of the academic year. Pupils in Upper School are also regularly assessed and graded.  Please see the Upper School Diploma Qualification (available on the school website) for further information.

We have a Visiting Students Programme so that students from Waldorf Schools abroad may spend a term or more as participating students in the school.  This is generally in the Upper School classes and is arranged through the International Visiting Student Programme in partnership with the Lewis School.  School families and teachers may offer accommodation to the visitors and anyone wishing to become a host family should contact Alistair Walker at alistair@lewis-school.co.uk.  A DBS check is required in such instances. 

Any families wishing to arrange a visit for their own Upper School child to spend time in a school abroad should start making plans in Class 8 and consult with the Upper School Faculty for advice on the most appropriate and beneficial times for a student to undertake such a trip.  

Periodically, overseas Waldorf pupils and au pairs contact the school wishing to arrange a private exchange/stay with a family in this country. If you are interested in such an arrangement, please look for details in the school newsletter or speak to the Office.

Learning at least one second language is an integral part of Waldorf Education and this is introduced in Class One.  At Ringwood Waldorf School the languages currently taught are French and German. Waldorf language teachers are in short supply and parents are asked to appreciate this fact in the knowledge that the school will use every endeavour to ensure that there is continuity in at least one language throughout the school.

Parents of children who join the school in Class Five or above, and who do not have an elementary proficiency in the language(s) being taught, may be asked to arrange private lessons for their child so that they can settle into the class more smoothly.

Music is a strong feature of Ringwood Waldorf School’s curriculum. 

In addition to music lessons in class, in which all children learn to play the recorder and, from Class 4, learn to read music, the school wishes to support and encourage children to learn an additional musical instrument. School facilities are made available after school on a no-charge basis for private instrument lessons in order to keep costs to a minimum for parents. The cost of individual private music tuition is the responsibility of parents as are the contractual arrangements. The availability of spaces is limited and these are only made available when they are not needed by the school and are therefore subject to change.

From Class 4 onwards all children take part in recorder ensembles and class orchestras, as well as the school choirs.  This may involve some evening and week-end activities.  Parents are asked to support their children by ensuring regular practice at home. 

Parents are often invited to watch and hear the children’s progress during Friday assemblies, and concerts are often held at the end of a term.

Sandi Weir coordinates the music curriculum in the school and you are welcome to speak to her for advice on choosing a suitable instrument for your child. There are pedagogical indications as to which instrument would be appropriate for each child and playing a musical instrument can also aid overall development in many other areas.

Most classes have trips, walks, camps and other outings during the year and, as these are seen as an important and integral part of the Waldorf curriculum, all pupils are accordingly required to attend. Parents are advised of arrangements and any costs by their class teacher well in advance of the event.  Any costs involved need to be pre-paid and parents will be invoiced directly.  All trip payments should be paid to the office.  Please ask for a receipt. 

Teachers follow the guidelines and policies, including risk assessments, for all trips and these can be seen in the school office on request. Parents will be asked to sign and return a consent form for all trips not covered by the annual parental consent for fixed outings, such as walks along the trailway.  

Parents are asked to respond to requests from Class Teachers for parental assistance with trips to keep costs down and to ensure adequate adult supervision. Please be aware that school rules apply on all trips and that only approved parents may accompany class trips or outings. This is at the absolute discretion of the Class Teacher/Class Guardian.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are required for all parent helpers accompanying classes on overnight trips and these should be arranged early in the year as Safer Recruitment paperwork can take some time to complete.

Homework is introduced progressively from Class 4 and parents are asked to give this their active support.  Ideas for ways in which support can be given can be discussed and agreed at Class Parent Evenings. Some classes, for instance, use homework diaries.

Ideally the child should have a quiet space where homework can be done at the same time each day so that it becomes part of the day’s rhythm.

Homework becomes increasingly important as the children move up the school and deadlines may also be used for the completion of projects.

Children who have not completed their homework without good reason may be expected to do so during the break(s) on the following day, or may be required to stay after school as a detention.  Where this happens, 24 hours notice will be given.

Generally, children below Class 8 should not have money at school unless they have been asked to bring money in by their teacher or the office. 

Upper School pupils may have the privilege of being able to make purchases from the Lantern Shop at their teacher’s discretion.

Where children do need money for after school reasons it should be handed to the office in the morning and collected after school.

Some children are frightened of dogs and some are allergic to them. Dogs are therefore not allowed on site at any time (including the school car park).

Our insurance company has advised us that any claim made against the school (regarding an injury inflicted by a dog) will be directed to the dog owner.

The school does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to clothing, personal possessions (except when formally on loan to the school for educational purposes) or loss of money (see ‘Pupils and Money’).

The school does provide a service for found property. It will be kept in the general office for a limited period of time (half a term) after which, if it is not claimed, it will be donated to a charity or may be sold. This will usually happen at half and end of term periods.

On some days of the week hot lunches (for example baked potatoes or pasta) are available to book for Classes 1 and above. Further information is sent out via the school newsletter and the Class Parents at the beginning of the academic year and parents are asked to book and pay for these termly in advance.