Parents are very welcome to contact the school about a boarding matter at any time and should not hesitate to do so if a problem or query arises. It is important that problems are not allowed to manifest or further develop. During the day, your call will be answered by someone from the school office. They will either take a message or transfer your call to the member of staff you want. If it is a boarding matter, you will be put through to Matron.
If parents need to pass on a message whilst their child is boarding (outside of regular school hours), they are best advised to email the Head of Boarding: book2board@stpetersprepschool.co.uk between 18:00 and 21:00. In the event of an emergency please contact Mr Friendship directly on 07999 767913. All contact details can be found in the 'Useful Information' section of this handbook.
Boarders can (with House Staff permission), use the phone in Matron’s room should they need to call home. They will need dial 9 before their home phone number. It is worth bearing in mind that boarders who are upset or homesick often feel worse if they see their parents or hear their voices.
Boarding House Staff will be in contact with parents as and when is required. This could be for any number of reasons but mainly if any important information is needed or to be passed on. The Boarding Bulletin containing a reflection of the week, any key information for parents and a preview of the activity schedule for the following week, is sent out on a weekly basis with the school Newsletter.
Matron is available between the hours of 08:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday, to see or speak to parents about any medical information or anxieties. In the event of a boarder becoming ill, parents will be notified. Those boarders who become ill are nursed at school until arrangements are made for them to go home. It is Matron’s decision whether or not a sick child should stay in school.
"Written permission has to be obtained for the administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescription medication to all boarders, and to seek medical, dental or optical treatment when required. In most cases, medical attention of this nature is organised by the parents, but circumstances may arise whereby this has to be organised by the school. Therefore the completion of the consent form sent out to parents is essential."
Any medication that is sent with boarders to the school must be clearly named and handed to Matron with any specific instructions. Pupils can always see Matron during the day and they can speak to any member of the House Staff team with anything that is worrying them. House Staff are all trained in paediatric first aid and the safer administration of medicines, so someone is always close at hand if there is a concern.
Dr Jemima Stilgoe, the school doctor based at Exmouth Surgery is available to give help and advice to any boarder throughout the week and Matron can arrange appointments with her.
For any concern regarding a medical issue, please contact Matron on 01395 280331.
