New starters at West Gate School

A warm welcome to all new families joining West Gate School! This page contains everything you need to prepare for your child’s start with us. Please read through the information and complete the required forms.

Induction Pack - Download PDF

Download the full induction pack (PDF): [Insert link here]

Welcome to West Gate School

A warm welcome to you from West Gate School.

We hope that this information will help you prepare for your child joining the school.

You may already have had an opportunity to visit us, meet our staff and been able to ask and have your questions answered.

Our vision for every pupil (and staff member) is for them to achieve their potential, so they can be their best. We aim to create a safe, fun, and supportive environment that inspires everyone to learn and develop.

We welcome the active involvement of families and provide a range of opportunities to get involved with school life throughout the year.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.

Rhian
Headteacher

West Gate School Day

The school day begins at 8.50am, and dismissal is at 2.50pm. If your child comes to school on a bus or taxi they will be greeted by staff when they arrive.

If your child is brought to school by parents or carers please bring and collect your child from the main school entrance.

Uniform & Equipment

At West Gate we feel it is important that we have a shared identity, and all feel part of the school community and we have a school uniform to support this. However, we also know that every member of our school is different, so our uniform is adaptable to meet their individual needs.

White shirt, t-shirt or polo shirt and Royal Blue sweatshirt (school logo optional)

Black/dark trousers, jogging bottoms, leggings or skirt		Black/dark shoes or trainers

Curriculum information

Please visit our Curriculum page for information regarding our Pathway offers to our students.

http://www.westgateschool.org.uk/Curriculum

School Meals & Arbor app

Our Management Information System (MIS) is Arbor, this comes with a parent portal that parents & guardians can sign into and view all things about their child including school dinners balance, trips, attendance to name a few. Visit this link to view the guidance: West Gate School - Arbor help

All our food is cooked on site in the high specification kitchen by our team of cooks. The menus meet the Government Standards for meals that came into force in September 2007. The menus are rotated over a three-week cycle to ensure the menu choices remain fresh and popular.

We at West Gate School use Relish to manage our school dinners. You can register for an account and pre-order school meals for your child in advance. The link will take you to the login/register page for you to register. https://relishschoolfood.co.uk/parents/

School meals are payable in advance weekly, monthly or by the term. Payments need to be made via the Arbor app.

Transport

You may be considering applying for transport for your Son/Daughter to attend their educational placement. This letter is to make you aware that all transport requests are now to be made online using the SEND transport link on the Local Offer Leicester website
https://families.leicester.gov.uk/send-local-offer/personal-transport-budget/

For help, contact Lisa or Sonia from the Welfare Team at the school.

Term Dates & Attendance

View Term Dates: West Gate School - Term Dates

Incontinence swimwear

Students who wear incontinence products in school must wear suitable protective swimwear.

Incontinence swim pants/swimwear are available to order from www.incywincy.net.

This swimwear is designed to contain solids and prevent "accidents", the unique fabric featuring Bacstop technology breathes and is an effective bacteria barrier too. This swimwear will not absorb water, swell, or decompose and is harmless to pool filtration systems. The swim pants are designed to be worn under regular swimwear. They are lightweight and consist of the following; outer 85% nylon, 15% spandex; lining 100% polyester with polyurethane backing. They are also machine washable (cold temperature). The swim pants are available in royal blue or white.

Safety Information regarding swimming goggles

We are advised that although swimming goggles look harmless, they have been found to carry considerable risks. A small percentage of casual swimmers find the water in the swimming baths to be irritant due to chlorination, nitrogenous content, aniline dyes and general detritus, but the hazard to themselves and others of wearing goggles is probably far greater than the protection provided by wearing the goggles. We are advised that little medical benefit accrues from the use of goggles and we therefore advise parents and children not to use them other than in exceptional circumstances.

Please read the following points before authorising the school to allow your son/daughter to wear goggles.

Water safety and the use of swimming goggles:

1 . The parent must accept responsibility in writing for ensuring that it is understood that the correct method of putting on the goggles and taking them off is necessary. Cold, slippery hands do not always grasp the fittings adequately and a catapult effect can result in eye trauma.

2. It is difficult to maintain accurately fitting eye protection and therefore contact with the water in the swimming bath is almost inevitable.
3. The use of goggles when diving is dangerous due to the possibility of dislodgement on entering the water.
4. Some goggles are made of brittle plastic, glass or acrylic substances and in the event of any collision, may shatter resulting in serious injury and/or the deposit of hazardous material which is difficult to locate and remove form the swimming bath.
5. Although British Standard specification 5883 (1980 revised 1986) for surface swimming goggles exist, no known manufacturer has submitted products to the expensive procedures for the award of a British Standard Kite Mark. Extensive enquiry have revealed that the products marketed by Messrs Speedo and Eyeline are manufactured to the requirements of BSS 5883. These goggles are acceptable for use in schools.

If after considering these points, you wish to authorise the school to allow your child to wear goggles for swimming lessons please sign and return the relevant permission slip.

Safe bounce

Your child may be offered Safe Bounce as part of their personalized learning.

Safe Bounce offers students the opportunity to experience movement and exercise and improve their control of their bodies using a trampoline. Students take part in gentle bouncing on the trampoline, to support self-regulation. All sessions will be led by trained staff.

PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST BELOW, IF YOUR YOUR CHILD HAS ANY OF THE CONDITIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH DETAILS.
office@westgate.leicester.sch.uk

Detached retinas
Atlanto-axial instability
Brittle bones / Osteoporosis
Cardiac or circulatory problems
Respiratory problems
Spinal cord or neck problems
Spinal rodding
Epilepsy
Poor skin conditions
Friction effects on the skin
Open wounds
Unstable painful joints
Hiatus Hernia
Gastrostomy
Colostomy bags
Severe challenging behaviour
Down's Syndrome
Vertigo, Blackout or Nausea
Joint Replacement/lmplant Surgery
Any recent medical attention

Attendance policy

Introduction
West Gate School is committed to promoting the highest possible attendance for all pupils, recognising that some may face challenges impacting their ability to attend regularly. Good attendance is essential for academic success, social development, and overall well-being.
Legal Framework
This policy aligns with the Department for Education (DfE) guidance on school attendance, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and best practices.
Informing School About Absence
• Parents/carers must notify the school office at 0116 255 2187 before 9:00am on the day of absence, stating the reason.
• Absences will only be authorised if the school deems the reason valid.
• If a pupil has a medical appointment, parents/carers must inform the school in advance and provide supporting evidence.
• If no notification is received, the school will contact parents/carers to determine the reason for absence.
• If the reason remains unknown, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Punctuality & Late Arrivals
• The school day starts at 8:50am, with registration between 8:50am and 9:00am.
• Pupils arriving between 9:00am and 9:30am will be marked as late (‘L’).
• Registers close at 9:30am. Pupils arriving after this time will be marked as ‘U’ (unauthorised absence).
• Persistent lateness or unauthorised absences may trigger an attendance meeting with the school.
Authorised vs. Unauthorised Absence
• Absences are unauthorised if no reason is provided or if the reason is deemed unacceptable.
• Unauthorised absence is a serious matter and may lead to legal action.
• Proof of medical/dental or other appointments is required for authorised absences.
• Attendance records will be reviewed annually as part of the Annual Review Process.
Leave of Absence in Term Time
• Leave of absence during term time is strongly discouraged.
• Exceptional circumstances may be considered upon submission of a Leave of Absence Form, available from the school office.
Monitoring & Support
• Attendance is monitored daily, and patterns of absence are reviewed regularly.
• Pupils at risk of persistent absence will receive support and intervention in line with DfE guidance.
• The school will work collaboratively with parents/carers and external agencies to address attendance concerns.
Enforcement & Legal Action
• The school may refer cases of persistent unauthorised absence to the Local Authority, which may result in fines or prosecution.
• Parents/carers are encouraged to engage with the school to resolve attendance issues before legal action is considered.

📧 Additional information and help

Please see the links on the right of this page for more information on things like school milk, the Welfare team, our therapy dogs and more.

Contact the School Office:

• Phone: 0116 255 2187
• Email: office@westgate.leicester.sch.uk

🔐 Security & Privacy

Please click the link: West Gate School - GDPR & Privacy Notices Here you will find all of the Privacy notices and policies regarding GDPR