Policies and Procedures
In order to ensure our students are able to receive the best education while under Ubuntu Education Fund’s care there are various policies and procedures in place that we ask students and parents to abide by. These polices/procedures are outlined in the following pages. Any questions regarding them can be directed to Bongisa Mabusela, Ubuntu Education Fund’s Early Childhood Principal.
Policies and Procedures:
· Arrival and Pick-up
· Attendance
· Discipline
· Sickness
· Accidents
Arrival and Pick Up
School begins at 8:00am and finishes at 12:15pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
ONLY APPROVED PERSONS MAY PICK UP/ DROP OFF YOUR CHILD FROM SCHOOL! If someone other than a parent will be picking up the child Ubuntu must have a verbal or written notice from you at least one day in advance.
Walk-in’s:
An AUTHORISED parent or guardian must drop their child off at Ubuntu NO LATER than 8:10am.
An AUTHORISED parent or guardian must pick their child up at Ubuntu NO LATER than 12:30pm.
If a child arrives after 8:00am or is picked up later than 12:30pm the teachers will give a verbal warning to the parent.
*Each tardy is recorded in our attendance log
o After the first warning, if the child is dropped off or picked up late more than 3 times, the case will be referred to the ECD Manager.
o After the 3rd tardiness, classroom teachers will then speak directly to that child’s parent/guardian and a note will be signed indicating the meeting of both parties. This note will then be placed in the child’s folder at Ubuntu.
If a child is marked tardy more than 3 times after a meeting has occured with the ECD Manager and the parent/guardian, then the result will be termination from Ubuntu’s Early Childhood Programme.
Attendance
Consistent attendance at school is crucial for our student’s development. As such Ubuntu has outlined a strict attendance policy that is meant to provide each child with the best possible chance for academic success.
Excused Absences
All absences will be reported as unexcused absences unless the school receives the following documentation:
Doctors note specifying the excused day(s)
- Religious holidays
- Parent note indicating there is a family funeral – the child will be excused only for the day of the funeral unless extenuating circumstances apply
- Parent note indicating there is a family emergency – emergencies include house fires, house floods, or incidents of violence in the home. Children are expected to be at school as soon as possible after the situation is resolved
- Court documents mandating a court appearance – the child will be excused only for the day(s) indicated on the court documents.
Long Term Absences
If your child is absent for a week or more, please make certain to make arrangements with your child's classroom teacher to pick up long-term assignments. Depending upon the nature of the illness, children will be responsible for keeping up with their class work.
If students are absent for any reason for 5 consecutive days without parent notification the student will be automatically dropped from the roster and will be automatically withdrawn.
- Sickness
If a child is sent to school displaying any of the following symptoms, they will be sent to the nurse:
· Fever
· Vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Discharge from the eye(s)
· Rash
· Lice
· Ringworm
** These conditions are in line with the Sickness policy explained on pg. __ of the Ubuntu Education Fund Parent Handbook.
If the nurse deems the child contagious or too ill to return to class, the parent will be notified by the teacher.
If a child is sent to school displaying any of the above symptoms and the nurse deems the child contagious, the parent will receive a verbal warning.
· After the first warning (verbal), if the child is sent to school displaying the above symptoms a second time it will be recorded in the class register and reported to the ECD manager.
· If the child is sent to school, displaying any of the symptoms above, a third time, the classroom teacher will meet with the parent/guardian and a note will be signed indicating the meeting of both parties to discuss the violation of Ubuntu Education Fund’s illness policy. This note will be placed in the child’s folder at Ubuntu.
· After this meeting, if the child is sent to school displaying any of the symptoms of illness listed above, the teacher and ECD manager will meet with the parent/guardian a final time, with this meeting resulting in termination from Ubuntu’s Early Childhood Programme.
Long Term Absences
If your child is absent for a week or more, please make certain to make arrangements with your child's classroom teacher to pick up long-term assignments. Depending upon the nature of the illness, children will be responsible for keeping up with their class work.
If students are absent for any reason for 5 consecutive days without parent notification the student will be automatically dropped from the roster and will be automatically withdrawn.
If a child is sent to school displaying any of the following symptoms, they will be sent to the nurse:
· Fever
· Vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Discharge from the eye(s)
· Rash
· Lice
· Ringworm
** These conditions are in line with the Sickness policy explained on pg. __ of the Ubuntu Education Fund Parent Handbook.
If the nurse deems the child contagious or too ill to return to class, the parent will be notified by the teacher.
If a child is sent to school displaying any of the above symptoms and the nurse deems the child contagious, the parent will receive a verbal warning.
· After the first warning (verbal), if the child is sent to school displaying the above symptoms a second time it will be recorded in the class register and reported to the ECD manager.
· If the child is sent to school, displaying any of the symptoms above, a third time, the classroom teacher will meet with the parent/guardian and a note will be signed indicating the meeting of both parties to discuss the violation of Ubuntu Education Fund’s illness policy. This note will be placed in the child’s folder at Ubuntu.
· After this meeting, if the child is sent to school displaying any of the symptoms of illness listed above, the teacher and ECD manager will meet with the parent/guardian a final time, with this meeting resulting in termination from Ubuntu’s Early Childhood Programme.
Discipline
In order to ensure a safe and productive learning environment the following disciplinary policies will be enacted while your child is at Ubuntu Education Fund’s Early Childhood Programme.
Class Rules:
1. Listen to your teachers
2. Respect other students and teachers in class
3. Always try your best
Rules will be reviewed by teachers and students beginning of the year and at on-going intervals throughout the year. They will also be posted in simple form in the classroom for children to see.
Disciplinary Infractions:
Disciplinary actions may be taken in cases such as:
1. Bullying or starting fights
2. Disruptive classroom behaviour (i.e. aggressive behaviour)
3. Disrespectful comments to teachers/students
4. Misuse of toys or other classroom materials
Ubuntu seeks to prevent behaviour problems by keeping the programme well organised, setting clear expectations, modelling responsible and respectful behaviour, offering appropriate activities, meeting students’ basic needs, and providing positive reinforcement for good behaviour. When disciplinary actions are necessary, we use suspension of privileges, separation from the group and notices to parents.
Disciplinary Actions:
To provide a safe and caring environment where children can play and learn, limits are set on behaviour. Limits are set for three primary reasons: (1) to prevent children from injuring themselves or others; (2) to prevent the destruction of property, materials, or equipment; (3) to help children learn respect for themselves, other children, and adults. Consequences for unacceptable behaviour are:
· First Offence: Verbal warning
· Second Offence: Time out in designated area
· Third Offence: Discipline form sent home and child sent to school administrator
· Fourth Offense: Parent/Teacher conference
For more serious infractions (i.e. fighting) teachers may use the punishment assigned to the second offense as this type of behaviour is not condoned.
Discipline Log:
Each time a child is disciplined the action and resulting punishment by the teacher is recorded in the discipline log. This log provides an account of where and when an incident occurred, who was involved, the resulting punishment and a confirmation that parents were notified. A copy of this report is then filed in the child’s personal file located in separate room. Parents are notified about all disciplinary actions taken and are asked to sign off on the completed notice of disciplinary action form (see sample on page 16).
Administrator Meetings:
If a child is continuing to misbehave the school administrator may be called and a meeting with the student may take place. If the problem is emotional, the administrator will refer the child and their primary family to an Ubuntu Family Support Specialist. Every time a child is sent out for behavioural reasons, the staff member must record it. The administrator must record all interactions with students.
The following actions WILL NOT take place regarding discipline of students:
· No child shall be the subject of physical punishment, corporal punishment, verbal abuse or threats.
· No child shall be asked by a staff member to do any favours for them (i.e. getting water, food, etc.)
· No child shall be ridiculed or laughed at for an answer that is wrong. All children should be made to feel special at all times.
· No child or group of children shall be allowed to discipline another child.
In order to ensure a safe and productive learning environment the following disciplinary policies will be enacted while your child is at Ubuntu Education Fund’s Early Childhood Programme.
Class Rules:
1. Listen to your teachers
2. Respect other students and teachers in class
3. Always try your best
Rules will be reviewed by teachers and students beginning of the year and at on-going intervals throughout the year. They will also be posted in simple form in the classroom for children to see.
Disciplinary Infractions:
Disciplinary actions may be taken in cases such as:
1. Bullying or starting fights
2. Disruptive classroom behaviour (i.e. aggressive behaviour)
3. Disrespectful comments to teachers/students
4. Misuse of toys or other classroom materials
Ubuntu seeks to prevent behaviour problems by keeping the programme well organised, setting clear expectations, modelling responsible and respectful behaviour, offering appropriate activities, meeting students’ basic needs, and providing positive reinforcement for good behaviour. When disciplinary actions are necessary, we use suspension of privileges, separation from the group and notices to parents.
Disciplinary Actions:
To provide a safe and caring environment where children can play and learn, limits are set on behaviour. Limits are set for three primary reasons: (1) to prevent children from injuring themselves or others; (2) to prevent the destruction of property, materials, or equipment; (3) to help children learn respect for themselves, other children, and adults. Consequences for unacceptable behaviour are:
· First Offence: Verbal warning
· Second Offence: Time out in designated area
· Third Offence: Discipline form sent home and child sent to school administrator
· Fourth Offense: Parent/Teacher conference
For more serious infractions (i.e. fighting) teachers may use the punishment assigned to the second offense as this type of behaviour is not condoned.
Discipline Log:
Each time a child is disciplined the action and resulting punishment by the teacher is recorded in the discipline log. This log provides an account of where and when an incident occurred, who was involved, the resulting punishment and a confirmation that parents were notified. A copy of this report is then filed in the child’s personal file located in separate room. Parents are notified about all disciplinary actions taken and are asked to sign off on the completed notice of disciplinary action form (see sample on page 16).
Administrator Meetings:
If a child is continuing to misbehave the school administrator may be called and a meeting with the student may take place. If the problem is emotional, the administrator will refer the child and their primary family to an Ubuntu Family Support Specialist. Every time a child is sent out for behavioural reasons, the staff member must record it. The administrator must record all interactions with students.
The following actions WILL NOT take place regarding discipline of students:
· No child shall be the subject of physical punishment, corporal punishment, verbal abuse or threats.
· No child shall be asked by a staff member to do any favours for them (i.e. getting water, food, etc.)
· No child shall be ridiculed or laughed at for an answer that is wrong. All children should be made to feel special at all times.
· No child or group of children shall be allowed to discipline another child.