GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTEERS

We thought it would be helpful to offer some tips for all the new and old supporters who make our School so much more effective. The following guidelines address the areas that most frequently concern our volunteers, but do ask staff if there are any further questions that you might have.

Behaviour

We expect our children to behave with courtesy and good manners. Sometimes, however, children 'test' new volunteers by being less controlled than they might be with a teacher. As long as the behaviour is not out of hand it is usually best to ignore it. If it persists, please pass the problem on to the staff.

Working with a group

Your role is to support and encourage the children. Avoid the temptation to do the work for them! Give them plenty of time to find a solution before supplying an answer and always praise their efforts.

You will often need to instruct or remind the group before they can start work, e.g. "Let's read these rules before we play the game"

Or

"Do you remember Mrs Clever said that we had to get all the words in the right order?"

If you are doing something creative, remember it is the child's work, not yours that is the object of the exercise!

Hearing readers

Before starting to read, ask the child to re-cap on the story for you. Pretend to be interested in the characters and make the child feel as though s/he is giving you a big treat! If s/he is stuck on a word, help her/him to break the word up, use the pictures, or make an intelligent guess, before saying the word yourself. If you have been asked to write in the reading comment notebook please do so sensitively, and always positively. e.g.

"I do enjoy hearing you read Tarquin. Thank you."

Confidentiality

You will have a different perspective on the school having worked in the classroom.

Children's behaviour/ability/attitudes to learning will be obvious to you, and we ask you not to share those insights outside school.

e.g.

"I had no idea that Primrose was such a fusspot!"

or

"Your Cynthia is a lot cleverer than the other children in the class!"

Feedback with staff

Staff will want to hear how you got on, but there may not be time between lessons. Please jot down any concerns or insights that you might wish to pass on to the teacher if you do not have the opportunity to share them. Teachers will have some sort of assessment sheet for you to use.

As a volunteer you are an honoured guest and we will endeavour to treat you as such. You are welcome in the staff room where there are coffee and tea making facilities. If you would like a school dinner, please ask Mandy Airey at the beginning of the day - the cost of an adult meal is £2:05

Please sign the Visitor’s Book in the foyer outside the School Office at the beginning and end of your session. It would also be helpful if you could check the fire alarm procedures on display in every room as a precaution.