Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Dinner Money?
Dinner money is £2.40 per day. Children are entitled to a free hot lunch up to Year 2. Arbor Pay is our preferred payment method for school lunches. If parents feel they are entitled to free school meals for their child in Years 3-6, please collect the necessary forms from the school office or parents can contact the East Riding of Yorkshire local authority directly.
What time does school start?
The school day starts at 8.50am and finishes at 3.10pm. Doors open at 8.40am. Registration is from 8.50am to 9.00am.
What are the Term Dates?
View our full details of term dates.
What is the school uniform?
We have a simple school uniform that can be bought at Rawcliffes Schoolwear, Savile Street, Hull and certain non-compulsory school items can be purchased at most clothing shops. Details of what boys and girls must wear can be found on our uniform page of the website.
Where can I buy the school uniform?
Compulsory items of our school uniform can be bought at Rawcliffes Schoolwear and certain non-compulsory school items can be purchased at most clothing shops.
How do I make an application for a school place?
Make an application to your home Local Authority for all places except Nursery provision where contact should be made directly with the school.
Can you accept applications from a child with special needs?
Applications received relating to children with statements of special educational needs will be dealt with in accordance with the National Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs. Where a school is named in a child’s statement of educational special needs, the school has a duty to admit the child. For further details about our SEND Provision visit The Hessle Academy SEND page or contact the Director of Learning Support.
Where will I find the latest performance tables and Ofsted report?
The latest performance tables and Ofsted report can be viewed on The Hessle Academy main page.
What should I do if my child is bullied?
We work really hard to support our learners to identify bullying and peer disputes within our restorative ethos and to develop resilience in dealing with these types of relationship issues. However, if your child does talk about this please advise them to speak to any adult in the school straight away. This can be any member of staff that they feel comfortable with. You may also wish to support your child by talking to the class teacher with your child. We would encourage that they report any incident to the class teacher as they can observe behaviour during lessons and advise lunchtime staff as necessary. We take accusations of bullying very seriously and any incidents are dealt with appropriately and with speed in accordance with our policy. If you are concerned about your child please speak to a member of the Senior Management Team and never approach a child or the parent yourself.
Where can I view a copy of a letter to parents?
A copy of all Letters to Parents sent during the school year can be found on our Parent Communications page.
How do I get to Penshurst Primary School?
Directions on how to get to Penshurst Primary can be found on our How to get here page.
Can I park at the school?
There is no parking within the school grounds and the access and exit points into the school locality are extremely congested at peak times. We would strongly advise parents to take the healthy and environmentally friendly option with their child(ren) and walk to school. Please keep the school entrance clear and be sensitive to the needs of our neighbours. It is illegal to stop on the zigzag lines near the school to drop off your child. If there are fewer cars near the school entrances there is more likelihood that children will be visible when leaving school and, therefore, safer.
Can my child cycle to school?
Yes, your child can cycle if they are accompanied by an adult. If you wish your child to cycle on their own we would need a permission letter from the parent with parental responsibility. Children and parents are asked to dismount from their cycles / scooters at the school gate and walk through the school grounds to ensure the safety of pedestrians on site.
A secured, covered cycle shed is provided on site, but children should be encouraged to bring a bicycle lock, wear a helmet and begin to develop good and safe road practices. The school takes no responsibility for bicycles/ scooters left on the school site.
Can my child walk to school alone?
No, children must be accompanied by an adult. If you wish an older child to walk to school alone we must receive a permission letter from the parent with parental responsibility, except in Year 6 where verbal parental permission is acceptable. Children in any year group are not allowed to leave the school site during the day on their own, this includes at lunchtime. Though we would urge children to stay at school for lunch we understand that on occasion parents may wish them to have a ‘home lunch’. In these circumstances parents (or someone identified on the approved collection list) must collect the child from reception.
What is the school’s meal service?
Our School meals service is provided by ABM. They are a large, national company with an excellent reputation both in the education sector and beyond. Please view our current menu here.
What should I put in my child’s packed lunch?
We encourage healthy eating and expect parents to choose healthily when creating a packed lunch.
An example of a healthy packed lunch:
- A sandwich
- No crisps except baked snacks eg. Baked crisps, cheddars
- A wafer biscuit
- Yoghurt and a piece of fruit
- Bottle of water or juice
- No sweets, fizzy drinks, nuts or chocolate (unless covering a wafer/biscuit)
What do I do if my child has lost a piece of clothing?
We advise parents to sew a name label into all clothing or write their child’s name in indelible ink. If an item goes missing your child must inform the class teacher and look in the lost property. We will do our utmost to find lost items, but we are unable to provide a replacement.
My child is sick, how do I report an absence?
If your child is sick please contact the school before 9am on the first day of absence to report the absence. Contact should be made on every subsequent day of illness. Further details and support on specific illness relevant to school attendance can be gained by speaking with the Attendance and Welfare Manager.
Where will my child go when they finish in Year 6?
As part of the Hessle Academy, pupils from Penshurst Primary School generally make the transition to Hessle High School & Sixth Form College. For parents wishing to secure a place at Hessle High School & Sixth Form College there is no need to make an application as the through school status puts you ahead of the competition and guarantees a place. For parents wishing to send their child to another secondary school provider an application must be made to the home Local Authority.
When will my child start in Reception?
This will depend on their age and parental preference, usually children join Reception class in the September before their 5th birthday. For further advice you can speak to the school office staff.
Can my child bring toys into school?
No, we normally discourage toys or collectables (e.g. football cards) being brought to school, unless the class teacher has specifically requested that they do. Please always check with the class teacher.
Can I receive the Head of School's Blog and school updates by email?
Updates will be emailed to parents, but can also be obtained from our website from the Head of School's Blog section.
What is the best time to talk to the teacher if I have a question?
We would discourage parents from trying to talk to a teacher in the morning as they are busy preparing for the school day. We would advise you to speak to the teacher at the end of the school day after all the children have been dismissed. We can also make appointments in the school office for parents to see the class teacher or another member of staff.
Is there a before and after school provision?
There are an extensive number of after school activities which are arranged to run throughout term time. There is also a term time Breakfast Club.
How can parents get involved?
We encourage parents to get involved in various ways from attending trips to individual reading. If you would like to help please contact the school office.
