Starting School at Thistle Hill?
Everything you need to know...
Make sure you have read our Why choose Thistle Hill? page before you start!
If your child is going to be starting school with us in September, scroll through this page for lots of useful information for new parents.
Who we are
Headteacher
R Handebeaux
Deputy Headteacher
B Mcintosh
SENDCo
N Allchin
Well-being and Behaviour Lead
T Fitzegerald
Headteacher
Ms R Handebeaux
Deputy Headteacher
B Mcintosh
SENDCo
N Allchin
Well-being and Behaviour Lead
T Fitzegerald
Safeguarding Lead
Mrs V Shrivell
Parent Support Advisor
Mrs K Williams
EYFS and KS1 Teacher development lead: Chloe Johnston
SRP Lead teacher: Sian Bailey
Teachers
EYFS: Miss Body and Mrs Hill
Year 1: Mrs Thackray and Miss Bevan
Year 2: Mrs Holmes and Miss Feveyear
Year 3: Miss Barnard and Miss Bonser
Year 4: Mrs Slater and Mrs Johnson
Year 5: Miss Foster and Mr Hinsley
Year 6: Miss Body and Mrs Tyler
SRP teacher: Miss Thackray
Trust Safeguarding Lead
Mrs S Partridge
Teaching Assistants
M Holmes – SEN assistant
C Steele
S Roberts
S Bower
C Dines
D Graham
S Foy
H Goodyear
M Clarke
C Williams
L Morgan
E Lassnig
C Collins
W Newman
H Smith
E Strauss
M McGowan
D Spurrier
M Richards
S Collins
P Pradhan
M Roblin
C Biskup
S Ray
Nurture Support Staff
Mrs E Lassnig
SEND Support
Miss M Holmes
Office Manager
Mrs S Sargeant
Admin Assistant
Mrs S Pain
MDMS
Mrs J Austin
Mrs J Forster
Mrs S Mortlock
Site Manager
Mr M Homewood
Network Manager
Mr D Banks
Breakfast Club Supervisors
Miss D Graham
Miss R Thackray
After School Club Supervisors
Mrs M Baker
Mrs S Foy
Mrs S Mortlock
How we communicate
Reach More Parents is our communication app for all current parents with children at the school.
It is our primary method of communication and essential for day to day contact with the school.
We use weduc to:
- Send messages (which parents receive as app notifications)
- Receive messages (parents can message the school office from the Weduc app)
- Share letters and newsletters
- Share key dates on our calendar
- Share what’s been going on at the school in our newsfeed
- Share useful links and information in ‘The Hub’ (Term dates, Staff list, Policies, etc.)
You can download the Weduc app onto your smart phone or tablet from the App Store or Google Play.
To register to use the app, please ask the school office for your unique enrolment code if you have not received one.
Please note that parents will only be able to receive an enrolment code once their child has started school.
Reach More Parents is not the only method we communicate with parents and carers and it is not the only way they can communicate with us. There are termly academic reports, drop-in sessions and parent consultation meetings where you can speak to the staff in the school.
We of course also communicate by telephone when needed, you can:
Call us on 01795 899119
We also still send home physical letters when appropriate.
We send out a ‘Key Dates’ document at the beginning of every Term by Weduc/email.
We send out Class Newsletters at the beginning of every Term to give parents a view of what their child’s class will be learning that term. These are sent to parents by Weduc/email.
A senior member of staff will always be on the gate in the mornings to welcome children and parents into the school.
If you have a problem and would like to speak to a member of staff you it is suggested that you initially speak to your child’s class teacher prior to the Assistant/Deputy Headteacher then Headteacher. Any meetings will have to be made by appointment with at least 24 hours notice. You can book by calling or sending a Weduc message to the school. The Office Manager will then be able to book a time to speak to the correct member of staff as soon as possible.
Remember – if you have any concerns, problems or feedback for us please speak to us – tell us, not Facebook!
Our website is for prospective parents and the local community to find out more information about our school.
Our website contains:
- Statutory information
- Why parents should choose our school
- Useful information for new parents
- Gallery
Our facebook page is for current parents, prospective parents and the local community to find out what’s been going on at our school.
Our facebook page is used to celebrate our school, not to communicate important messages.
School Uniform
We have thought carefully about our school uniform and have chosen it to be comfortable and practical for primary aged children whilst also being affordable for families.
Our sweatshirt/cardigan is the only piece of school uniform where it is important that the School logo is present. These can only be purchased from the Mapac Online Shop where parents can choose to have orders delivered to the school free of charge.
This means that all other items of uniform/accessories can be purchased in supermarkets and/or local uniform shops, as well as the Mapac online shop.
Use the link below to purchase uniform from the Mapac online shop.
If you do not have access to a computer/internet, you can contact Mapac’s friendly team on 01923 255525.
If you have any queries before, during, or after placing your order call 01923 255525 or sales@mapac.net
Size Guide (Samples of uniform are available at the main office to try on)
We believe that our school uniform is a vital part of our school community, promoting a sense of belonging and neat appearance. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to uphold this standard. To better cater to our children’s comfort and individual needs, we’re excited to announce new alternative options to our uniform policy, effective from September 2023. These additions offer more flexibility while preserving the spirit of unity our uniforms bring. You can find these updates in our revised Uniform Policy, linked below. We’re confident that these changes will make our school an even more inclusive and welcoming environment for our children.
Use the link below to read our uniform policy.
The alternative uniform options for children are:
- As an alternative to black or grey trousers, children are allowed to wear plain black tracksuit bottoms.
- As an alternative to sensible black shoes, children are allowed to wear sensible black trainers.
- As an alternative to a PE kit, children are allowed to wear their regular school clothes instead, therefore a PE kit is optional.
We accept donations of second hand uniform, please visit the school office where you can see our collection!
School Meals
Our school meals are provided by Chartwells. At £2.45 per day, we offer a balanced and nutritious menu daily. To accompany our menu, there is a fresh salad bar every day where children are encouraged to try a variety of new foods.
If you pay for school meals this must be done in advance via the Parent Pay website/app.
You can find examples of our menus below, but for an up to date menu, please see the menu in the notices section of your Reach More Parents app.
School meals are a great choice, but if you do make a packed lunch for your child then get hints and tips on what their lunchbox should contain as well as lots of easy-to-prepare ideas your children will love from the change4life website.
Wrap around care
We recognise the importance of providing childcare options to assist working parents.
Thistle Hill Academy is open from 7:30am – 6:00pm Monday to Friday.
As well as our Breakfast Club and After School Club, we offer a range of free Extra-Curricular Clubs every term that children can take part in after school
Breakfast Club is booked by using our online booking system.
Breakfast club runs from 7:30am – 8:30am at the cost of £2.50 (£2.80 from 30th October 2023) per day. Children are offered a wide range of breakfast meals and use the space in the main hall to play games and spend time with their classmates.
After School Club is booked by using our online booking system.
View the After School Club activity timetable and menu below:
Example After School Club activity timetable
Example After School Club menu
After School Club is booked by using our online booking system.
The After School Club will run Monday to Friday and is split into two sessions. The Twilight session is from 3:15pm until 4:30pm and the Late session is from 4:15pm until 6:00pm.
| Twilight Session | 3:15pm until 4:30pm | £3 (£3.50 from 30th October 2023) |
| Late Session | 4:15pm until 6:00pm | £4 (£4.50 from 30th October 2023) |
| Both Sessions | 3:15pm until 6:00pm | £7 (£8 from 30th October 2023) |
The After School Club will offer a wide range of activities for the children and provide drinks and a freshly prepared fruit snack for all children. For those children that stay on for the late session, a picnic snack will be provided, which varies on a daily basis.
The cost for the Twilight session is £3.50 per child and the cost for the Late session is £4.50 per child. Payments must be made in advance, either termly, monthly, weekly or daily. There are no exceptions to this as it is essential that the club in self-financing. if you are paying daily, payment must be made in the morning of that day.
If you are late collecting your child, an extra charge of £1 will be incurred for every 5 minutes past 6:00pm.
We offer an extensive range of Extra Curricular clubs throughout the year which are booked by using our online booking system.
Please note that all clubs have a restricted number of places which are allocated on a strictly “first come, first served” basis.
The clubs start at 3.15pm and finish at 4.15pm.
Choices for clubs will be sent to parents every term.
Examples of clubs that we offer are:
- Sewing Club
- Football Club
- Library Club
- Karate Club
- Choir Club
- Film Club
- Homework Club
- Fit for life Club
- Science Club
- Technology Club
- Gardening Club
- Speed Stacking
- Cooking Club
- Design Club
- Creepy Claws
- Yoga Club
Our curriculum
At our school, we work hard to offer an exciting curriculum that helps students become caring, lifelong learners who are ready to make a positive difference in the world. Our curriculum focuses on several important areas:
- Teaching students about unfairness in the world and inspiring them to take action to improve it.
- Helping students understand their feelings and how to get along with people from different backgrounds.
- Encouraging students to think creatively and critically to solve problems by working together and using different subjects.
- Supporting students in learning at their own pace in a welcoming environment that values everyone’s uniqueness.
- Creating memorable learning experiences that students will remember and cherish.
- Preparing students for an unpredictable future by showing them how to use technology for learning.
- Using a mastery approach to help students gain a deep and lasting understanding of what they learn, which can be adapted as needed.
To view more information about our curriculum including a breakdown of curriculum subjects please view our curriculum page:
Timings of the school day/term dates
Over a school year, pupils are required to attend school for 190 days. Children do not come into school on Staff Development Days or Bank Holidays.
Thistle Hill Academy is open from 7.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday.
Compulsory times for children are 8.45am – 3.15pm which equates to 6 hours 30 minutes a day, or 32.5 hours per week.
8.45 – 9.00 9.00 – 9.10 9.10 – 9.30 9.30 – 9.45 9.45 – 11.30 10.40 – 10.50 11.30 – 11.45 11.45 – 12.00 12.00 – 1.00 1.00 – 1.15 1.15 – 2.45 2.45 – 3.00 3.15 | Child initiated learning and registration Handwriting Phonics Reading Teacher input and Child initiated learning inc. snack Playtime Reading Story Lunch Reading Teacher input and Child initiated learning Reflection time Story/songs/ Home time
|
Times | Comments |
08:45 | Latest student arrival time |
08:45am – 10:40am | Registration/Lessons |
10:40am – 10:55am | Break |
10:55am – 12:00pm | Lessons |
12:00pm – 12:55pm | Lunch |
12:55pm – 2:00pm | Lessons |
2.00pm – 2.15pm | KS1 Break (optional for KS2) |
2.15pm – 3.15pm | Lessons |
3.15pm | School Finishes |
Parent Support Advisor
We have an in-school PSA who can support parents both practically and emotionally with any issues they may have regarding their children and/or school.
Hello, my name is Karen Williams and I am the Parent Support Advisor at Thistle Hill Academy.
I have many years’ experience with supporting families in a variety of ways across Kent. I am able to offer support with issues within school or home and also refer to other agencies/ professionals.
You can contact me by calling 01795 899119.
