01273 453176 office@sgprimary.co.uk
Swiss Gardens Primary School

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Parents and carers.

Everything you need in one place — communication, term dates, lunches, support, forms. If you can't find what you're looking for, the school office is on the end of the phone.

How we communicate

Three ways to reach us — and we to reach you.

Most day-to-day messages flow via SchoolPing. Anything urgent goes through the school office. The class teacher is the right first stop for anything specific to your child's day.

SchoolPing

Day-to-day messages — class news, photos, term letters, permission slips, parent reminders. Make sure your contact details are up to date so you don't miss anything. Download the app, or log in to SchoolPing on the web.

The school office

For anything urgent, anything administrative (forms, attendance, fees, eligibility), or anything you're not sure who to ask: 01273 453176 or office@sgprimary.co.uk. 8.30am – 4pm in term time.

The class teacher

For anything about your child's day — friendships, learning, settling in, a worry — the class teacher is the right first stop. Catch them at the gate at drop-off / pick-up, or message via SchoolPing for a longer conversation.

The Headteacher

Mrs Doble is happy to talk to any parent. Email the office to arrange a time.

Got a question or a concern? Who to talk to.

  • Something about your child's day or learning: start with the class teacher.
  • Special educational needs (SEND): our SENCO, Mrs Older. Ask for her through the school office. More on the Inclusion page.
  • Worried about a child's safety: our Designated Safeguarding Leads, Mrs Doble or Mrs Older, or a deputy, Ms Bourne or Miss Backshall. What to do.
  • Not sure who to ask: the school office, on 01273 453176 or office@sgprimary.co.uk.
  • Not happy with how something has been handled: talk to the class teacher or the office first. If it's still not resolved, our complaints procedure (PDF) explains the next steps.

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Day-to-day

The practical stuff.

Times, lunches, kit, drop-off — the things you need to know to keep the day running.

School day

Gates open at 8.30am and children go into classrooms from 8.40am. Lessons start at 8.50am and school ends at 3.10pm, making a school week of 32.5 hours. Late arrivals come in through the school office; pick-up is directly from the class door.

Before & after school

Our school-run Breakfast Club opens at 7.45am (£5 per session). After-school clubs and wraparound care run into the early evening. Times, the weekly timetable and how to book are on the Clubs & wraparound page →

Lunches

Hot lunches from FEED (ISS), ordered on the FEED app up to 8am on the day, or a packed lunch from home. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are free under the Universal Infant FSM scheme; from Year 3 lunches are paid (£2.95 a meal). See School lunches for details.

FEED (ISS) took over school catering from Chartwells in September 2026.

Term dates & INSET

Term dates, half terms and INSET days are on the school calendar, and reminders go out on SchoolPing. Look out for the next academic year's dates in the spring term.

Off sick or absent today?

Call the absence line on 01273 453176 and leave a message, or email absence@sgprimary.co.uk, on every day your child is off. Registers close at 8.50am. If attendance becomes a pattern, we'll be in touch to help.

Asking for time off in term time? That needs the absence request form (PDF), returned to the office before the absence.

Uniform

Maroon and grey day-to-day; house colours for PE. Buy from any retailer; branded items via the office or Wear Your Logo Lancing. Full list, summer/winter splits and PE kit on the Starting school page →

Key info for parents.

The full reference — safeguarding, charging, medical, premiums, statutory information and all school policies. Same topics as the cards above, in deeper detail and in one place.

Browse Key info

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Support for families

We're here when life is tougher.

If your family is going through a tougher patch — financial, emotional, separation, bereavement, anything — the school is here to help. Most of our support is private and informal.

Free School Meals (benefits-based)

If your family receives certain benefits, your child may qualify for free school meals through Years 3–6 (KS1 already gets universal free meals). It's worth checking even if you're not sure — the school office helps with eligibility, and the application is short. Each registered child also brings extra Pupil Premium funding to the school.

Mental health & wellbeing

If your child — or you — are finding things hard, please tell us. The class teacher or Mrs Doble can listen and signpost. We work closely with local services and West Sussex's family support teams.

SEND support

For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the SEND and Inclusion team co-ordinate support across the school and external partners. Talk to your child's class teacher first; for anything to take further, contact the office. Read about Inclusion at Swiss Gardens →

Wellbeing resources for parents and carers

Practical guides our SENCO and inclusion team have curated for families. Save them, share them, come back to them.

↓Parent Wellbeing ResourcesPDF ↓KS1 Wellbeing ResourcesReception–Y2 · PDF ↓KS2 Wellbeing ResourcesY3–Y6 · PDF ↓Mindfulness & wellbeing supportPDF ↓Stress management ideasPDF ↓Advice & support for bereavementPDF ↓Parent & carer wellbeing leafletPDF

Help in Adur and beyond

Local and national services that can help with money, food, family support and difficult times. The school office can help signpost too.

Online safety

The school's online safety policy is in the policies library. The links below are practical guides we recommend to families.

↓Parents Online Safety ResourcesSchool guide · PDF

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Supporting your school

Two ways to be part of it.

Swiss Gardens runs on its parents and carers — raising money and bringing people together through the PTA, and lending a hand directly in school. Whatever time you have, there's a way in.

Swiss Gardens PTA

The school's parent-led community group — fundraising, events, and bringing parents together. Everyone with a child at the school is automatically a member; turning up to one meeting a year is plenty.

Get involved.

Termly meetings, summer fete, Christmas fair, comedy night, big raffles. Whatever time you've got — five minutes a term or five hours a week — there's a slot that fits. Follow the PTA on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming events.

Read more about Swiss Gardens PTA →

Prefer to get in touch direct? Email the office to join the PTA mailing list.

Volunteering in school

Parents, carers and grandparents — we'd love your help. If you can hear a child read for half an hour, help with classroom admin, share a skill, or come along on a trip, even an hour a term makes a real difference. The easiest way in: tell your child's class teacher at drop-off or pick-up, or email the school office — we'll match you with what fits.

Get in touch

The school office co-ordinates volunteer helpers, including the brief safeguarding induction every helper completes before working with children.

Email the school office

Want to go further? Becoming a parent governor is the next step — every parent at Swiss Gardens can stand for election when a seat opens. Read about becoming a governor →

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Forms, policies, statutory

Find what you need.

The administrative bits — broken down by what you're trying to do.

Quick forms

School policies

Statutory information

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Can't find what you're looking for?

The school office is on the end of the phone, 8.30am – 4pm in term time.

Email the office