This page will be updated in due course with information about parent tours for Reception places starting in September 2025. For admissions for other year groups please contact the school office.
Frequently asked questions
If you have any queries not answered here, then do contact us on 0117 377 2247 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Do you have wrap around care?
We offer breakfast club from 8.00. Its £1.50 to come in and around 50p to £1.00 for toast, cereal, croissants etc. More info here
Do you offer music tuition?
Children learn a variety of instruments with tutors from Bristol Plays Music. Currently we offer guitar, violin and piano. We also have an African drumming teacher. Many children learn instruments and when they perform for the school it is one of the highlights of the year. We also have whole class music tuition, which is ukulele in Year 4 and Steel pans in Year 5!
What is your behaviour policy?
We have a positive behaviour policy where effort with learning and demonstrating our Core Values is rewarded. These are Resect, Fairness, Courage, Aspiration and Joy. We have a traffic light system in the classrooms and everyone starts the day on Green (we are Learning). They can move up to silver learner, and even Gold Learner which is really special and means the children get to have tea with Mrs O’Callaghan on Friday afternoon. We also elect house Captains each year, and children can earn points for their House. If children are not making good choices they are asked to reflect on this. There may be the need for time out, or the involvement of a phase leader if they are still continuing to make poor choices. Click here to visit our policy page.
How do you support and challenge able/bright children?
Within the framework of the National Curriculum, all children are expected to make progress with learning. Teachers will know their class well, and enable them to make progress whatever their starting points. Able children will be challenged and motivated to question, enquire, compare, analyse and reason.
Can my child start school in January?
Children don’t legally have to start school until the term after which they become five. However, we do advise against a later start for the following reasons:
When we begin the year in September, the children are integrated slowly, starting with a home visit where we get to chat with you as a family. We take a photograph, and this is then on the wall ready for when the children come into class. Once they start school, we spend a lot of time facilitating the building of relationships. Children make new friends, go to each other’s houses, and the parents begin to make friends as well. This is a hugely important time for the children and parents. We also spend a lot of time in these two terms building children's independence, which is vital. In the first two terms we will be teaching phonics, handwriting and number as well as the rest of the Early Years Curriculum. Children get into the pattern of the day and make good progress in that first two terms. You know your child best and we ask you to consider the pros and cons for your child. It's the difference between starting in September when everyone is new, and sharing that experience, or coming in to a class in January when the others are all settled into the routines, friendships are established and children are well underway with the academic side.
Can my child be in the same class as their friend from Nursery?
Yes. Once you have been offered and accepted a place, you will have the opportunity to let us know two friends that will also be coming to Glenfrome. When considering the classes, we aim to make sure your child is with at least one of their friends.
How often do children attend Forest School?
We have two Forest school sites in the woods close to school, and also one in our Orchard. Our friends at Bridge Farm are also building us another site complete with compost toilet! Children have at least one term where they go to Forest School Weekly. We have a Forest School Lead who facilitates sessions, and builds capacity across the staff to enable them to lead their own sessions. Outdoor learning is actively encouraged across the curriculum with four ‘seasons days’ throughout the year. See more here.
What is the provision for art across the school?
We follow the National Curriculum for the teaching of Art. We study a range of techniques and different artists as children move up through the school. We have been accepted onto the Artsmark Scheme which recognises schools for their creative arts teaching. Have a look at our curriculum page for more information.
What languages do you teach?
Modern Foreign Language teaching is a requirement from Year 3 onwards. As a school, we teach French. We speak 29 languages as a school community and all our languages are valued throughout the year. See our curriculum page for more information.
What is the process when children start school?
At the start of September we carry out home visits. Your child’s Teacher and Teaching assistant will come and meet you and your child in a familiar environment. In week two, the classes are split into groups A and B, and they attend either a morning or an afternoon in those smaller groups. In the third week the classes come together and all children attend for a morning with lunch. Children will then start full days in week 4.
How much can parents be involved in the school?
We welcome volunteers into the school. If you would like to get involved, do let us know. We have parents who come and read with children, help out on trips, support Forest School, help us with gardening, join the Governing Board and even share their talents with a variety of skills such as art, story telling and bugs! See our helping in school page here, or our PTA page here.
Do you have any plans to become an Academy?
Glenfrome is a Local Authority Maintained school. The Governing Board has no plans to change this at present. We are not seeking to become an academy or join a multi academy trust.
Do children stay in the same classes?
When children start at Glenfrome we keep them in the same classes all the way through from Reception to Year 6. We believe this enables the teachers to get to know the class quickly each year and for the children to be really settled when they return from the summer holidays and get to know their new teacher.
What sport do you offer?
All children have two PE lesson a week. We have coaches in from Bristol Sport who teach skills across a range of sports including hockey, tennis and athletics. We also have a visiting dance teacher who teaches African Dance, and all our Year 3 children have swimming lessons. Visit our sport and PE page for more info.
Clubs
We offer a range of clubs at lunchtime and after school. Current examples are chess, dance, football, cookery, newspaper club (writing the school newspaper), netball and tennis. More info on our clubs page.
