Marlborough House School. Boarding Handbook. Review Date: June 2015

Transcription

1 Marlborough House School Boarding Handbook Review Date: June 2015 March

2 Contents Page Number: 3 Introduction 3 Why should we consider boarding at Marlborough House? 3 Who is able to board at Marlborough House? 3 What commitment is expected? 4 Who is on the Boarding Staff? 4 Where do the children sleep? 4 What is the Boarders Common Room used for? 4 What thoughts have been given to pupils privacy? 5 What happens after the school day on club nights? 5 What happens on Wednesdays? 5 What is the Tuck Shop? 5 When do the boarders go to bed? 5 What happens if a boarder is ill while at school? 6 What is expected of those who board? 6 What happens in the mornings before school? 6 What should the boarders bring to school? 7 What consideration has been given to the security of the children while boarding? 7 How do parents fit into the boarding routine? 7 What should a parent do if they wish to discuss a problem or to complain? 7 How much does it cost? 8 Final thoughts 9 House Guidelines 2

3 Marlborough House School Boarding Handbook Introduction We believe that boarding should be a positive and enjoyable experience for all concerned and hope that this handbook will answer many of your questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if anything is not clear. Why should we consider boarding at Marlborough House? While boarding, pupils learn to live with others, to understand and respond to their needs as well as to their own. They are helped to develop a degree of self-reliance while also having the advantages of all the school facilities being available an especially useful asset for work, music or sport-based activities. Parents, meanwhile, have more time for work commitments, themselves or to the rest of the family, knowing that those in the care of the school are secure. Perhaps, above all, it is fun. Apart from the regular enjoyment of being with friends, there is often an outing or other treats organised for the boarders. Who is able to board at Marlborough House? The option to board is, subject to space, currently available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for pupils in Year Four - Eight. We cater for those who would like to board for only one night a week maybe to fit in with a club and also for those who would like to stay for any number of nights up to the current maximum number of three nights. We also try to cater for those who find that the occasional night is helpful maybe while parents are away on business or holiday. When thinking about such a request, please liaise carefully with the Housemaster, Mr Hockley, so as to ensure that any such option is in the best interests both of your child and also of the regular boarders. Will any other children of his or her year be boarding? Will your child have to move dormitories? Does your child want to join us? Will normal boarding routines be upset? Such considerations are vital in order to ensure everyone s happiness. Except for the final week of the term, if there is space available, we will try to help out. Who is on the Boarding Staff? Mr Hockley and his family live above the dining-room in the Prep School building. This means that they are near the boarding accommodation and are always available. During Boarding nights the Boarding Matron lives in a room in the Girls Wing. Between them, Mr Hockley and the Boarding Matron deal with all matters relating to boarding for both boys and girls. The Boarding Matron is responsible for health and medical matters during boarding time. 3

4 Two Junior Masters live in rooms within the school, and these young staff are usually around to assist and to get involved with the boarders. Where do the children sleep? Depending on numbers on the specific night, children are arranged by age, in separate groups of boys and girls, with the smallest dormitories catering for four pupils, and with the largest sleeping ten pupils. Beds or bunk beds are provided and each bed has a locker nearby. What is the Boarders Common Room used for? The Boarders Common Room is for the use of Boarders in the evenings. It is furnished with settees, chairs, a table, a large-screen television, DVD and video. We also have a digital photo frame, for current pictures of our boarders. This room is available to both boys and girls. What thoughts have been given to pupils privacy? The dormitory areas are largely private to the boarders. At no time should a girl enter a boys dormitory or vice versa. Within sensible boundaries of supervision, all Boarders are entitled to personal privacy. What happens after the school day on club nights? All boarders will have a cooked tea at 5.30pm followed by the Tuck Shop and a clubtime activity until 7.00pm. Boarders are then free to choose one of the organised activities on offer, either sporting or crafts-based. Unless a specific programme or televised sporting event is requested, television is not usually an option. The Sports Hall is also usually available in the evening, or children may like to spend time practising an instrument, reading, playing board-games or snooker, playing tabletennis, or swimming and playing in the grounds when the light and weather permit. Before going upstairs to bed, the pupils are offered a snack and drink. What is the Tuck Shop? Children are able to spend between 20p-45p (depending on age group) on some sweets. This is charged on the end of term bill. Extra tuck is awarded for dorm prizes and good behaviour. 4

5 When do the Boarders go to bed? Years 4 & 5 usually begin to get ready for bed at 7.45pm, have a shower and wash and have their lights out at 8.15pm. Older boarders follow on at regular intervals, with the Year 8 s having their lights-out at 9.00pm. The children sometimes read for 15 minutes before the lights are switched off or they may have a story read to them or have chat time. This is decided on an evening-by-evening basis. What happens if a boarder is ill while at school? If a boarder were to fall ill before night-time, the parents would be contacted and, if possible, would collect him or her. If this were not an option, or if the illness occurred during the night, then of course we would look after the child for as long as necessary. What is expected of those who board? All the normal School rules and guidelines apply, and we also have some House guidelines which relate directly to the boarding situation; these are commonsense items which try to cater for the needs of everyone living in the boarding community. Rewards and sanctions are used as appropriate. If deemed necessary, serious offences will be notified to Mr Ward and a record of the offence, and any action taken, will be kept by Mr Hockley. However, the philosophy is very much that behaving in a positive manner will reap its rewards. What happens in the mornings before school? The children are woken by a Matron at 7.00am and have a few minutes in which to wake up. By 7.10am everyone should be up, washing, dressing and getting ready for the day. The children and their dormitories are checked for tidiness before everyone goes to breakfast at 7.35am. This consists of a choice of cereal, plus a cooked or continental breakfast, with a glass of orange juice, water, milk or tea, and toast on demand. The children may use their own spreads if they wish, or marmalade is provided (jam when a continental breakfast). Breakfast ends at about 8.05am when the children brush their teeth again then go straight to their classrooms. What should the boarders bring to school? As from September, the school will provide duvets for the boarders to use. So no more big overnight bags please!!! We will also provide a clear plastic box for them to store all the vital things in, such as, duvet and pillow cover, toothpaste and brush and any other item that your child would need with them when they board. If deodorant is required, please ensure that this in the form of a stick or a roll-on not a spray; experience has found that spray-on deodorants set-off the fire alarm! All 5

6 you have to bring in on the morning before boarding is clean underwear and a towel. Please make sure these items are clearly labelled. We want the boarding experience to be as simple as possible for both you the parent and your child/children. Normally, no money should be brought to school. Any money that may be needed for, perhaps, an outing should be handed to Mr Hockley or the Matron for safekeeping. Mobile phones are not allowed. What consideration has been given to the security of the children while boarding? Apart from ensuring the School is locked at night, outside security lights are switched on and there is also an intruder alarm system which notifies of any unauthorised access. A run-through of the routine to follow in the case of a fire takes place for all boarders, at the beginning of term. A night-time practice is also held regularly, involving those boarding on that particular night. If a child has any general or specific concerns, he or she can ask for help or advice from any member of staff and, as is the case for every pupil at Marlborough House, these will be taken seriously and every effort will be made to sort them out. How do parents fit into the boarding routine? Children may, of course, see their parents whenever they are in School, although we do discourage parents from seeing their child once they are in the bedtime routine, when, for instance, parents are attending an evening function at School. There is a phone available to all pupils for emergency contact with parents. We would ask that parents do not ring-in asking to speak to their children as it can be very difficult for the Matron to stop what she is doing in order to find a particular pupil who may be anywhere in the school-grounds. Messages can, of course, always be taken. The usual number to ring is the School number, or Mr Hockley can be contacted on and by on: j.hockley@marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk 6

7 What can children do if they are worried or concerned about something? Children can talk to Mr Hockley, the Boarding Matron or any of the boarding staff. They can also contact the Independent Listener, Mrs Catherine Poole, Childline, OFSTED (Local childcare) - These telephone numbers are on display near the telephone. What should a parent do if they wish to discuss a problem or to complain? Mr Hockley or the Boarding Matron are always available, either by phone or in person and Mr Hockley is also contactable by . Never be worried whether or not to raise an issue; if you want to talk, we are always ready to listen. If you would rather speak to someone else, then Mr Ward is also available. If needed, there is also a complaints form available from the front office. How much does it cost? We offer three options for boarding. Option 1 is to commit to the term and pay 30 per night. Option 2 is a voucher system in which you can buy vouchers 4 at a time and use them when you want. The vouchers cost 37 each. Or you can have option 3, which is for the emergency one-off night. You may be called away at a meeting and boarding is always here if you need it, as long as we have a bed available. The cost for this is 42 per night. Final Thoughts We aim to make the boarding experience as enjoyable and flexible as possible within an organised framework, and to encourage the ethos that community living is just that living with others, caring for others, and being considerate to others, both pupils and staff. It is an open experience, and we very much encourage pupils and parents to talk to us if there is a problem. Unless we know about a problem, we cannot do much about it! There are some extra House guidelines for Boarders and these are listed at the end of this booklet. The House Guidelines are common-sense items which try to make it easier for everyone living in the Boarding House. Mr. James Hockley 7

8 House Guidelines General The normal standards of behaviour for Marlborough House are expected at all times. All Boarders are expected to behave in a courteous, kind and sensible way at all times and to all people. Please walk around the building, both upstairs and downstairs. You may play outside when there is enough light but you must wear suitable clothing. Home clothes may be worn during boarding time. Please make sure that these clothes are marked. Tuck is usually supplied after tea. Please do not bring tuck from home. The Boarders Common Room is for all boarders. Please leave audio equipment (ipods) and mobile phones at home. The Boarding Matron will ring home if necessary or a telephone is available near the Front Office for emergency contact. Dormitories You are expected to be silent after lights-out. This is only fair on those who would like to go to sleep. Please keep your dormitories tidy, with clothes folded neatly. November