The MCAS app allows you to access information about your child or children with one single login.  It also enables the school to send messages and letters directly to parents and is our main method of communication. 

Current information that the school holds on record may be out of date and this gives you the opportunity to check and amend any incorrect data.   

Getting Started with MCAS

Access MCAS from your Smartphone or tablet: 

• Go to your App store 
• Search for ’MyChildAtSchool’ Parent App
• Download the free app 

Access MCAS from your computer or laptop: 

• Simply go to here

Once in the Parent Login screen parents should follow these steps:   

• Click on the ‘Sign Up’ link in the Parent Login screen. 
• Enter the school’s School ID: 15398
• Select the school from the list in the dropdown. 
• Click Continue. 
• Enter your registered email address. 
• Click Sign Up. 

Once you have logged in you should see a picture of your son/daughter.  If you have multiple children in the school, click ‘change the student’ near the photo.

If you have trouble logging in, please do not hesitate to contact our Data Manager, Mr Loxley: mloxley@newfield.sheffield.sch.uk

Once you have accessed the app, please access the ‘Data Collection Form’ from the menu and check your personal details and your child’s details thoroughly, making and saving any necessary changes.  Please also access the ‘Parental Consent’ from the menu which allows you to provide consent for their images and biometrics.  Completing this section will ensure that the school holds the most up-to-date information and parental permissions for your child or children. 

 

This is an online system which you can use to make cashless payments for school trips, school meals and other purchases. This secure system will enable you to pay online using a debit or credit card. 

You will need an email address and access to the Internet to use this service, as well as a bank account. All payments that you make will be logged against your child’s account and you will be able to make these at your convenience and keep a track of transactions with school.  It will also ensure that no money is held on our premises. 

Enter www.parentpay.com into a browser and you will be taken to the home screen.  From here, you can use your username and password to activate your new account.  Once you have activated your account you can make online payments straight away.  Your child will need adding to your account.   

Already have a ParentPay account? 

If you already have a ParentPay account with another school, e.g. your child’s primary school, you can simply login to that account and add your other children via the ‘add a child’ tab on your homepage.  You will need the activation username and password to do this. 

New to ParentPay? 

You have a secure online account, activated using a unique activation username and password; you will be prompted to change these and to keep them safe and secure as your username and password for future logins. 

More than one child at school? 

If you have two or more children at school, you only need to activate one account to create your ‘main account’ and then add your other children via the ‘add a child’ tab on your homepage.   

You can top up credit as and when you wish and use this to pay for school meals and all school activities when they are assigned to your child. 

Please note that usernames and passwords have been created for the person listed as primary carer in our system.  Once that account has been activated, the ParentPay system will allow us to create a second payer, this could be mum, dad or a grandparent for example.  If you would like a second sign in for your child, please contact us. 

If you wish to pay by cash at a PayPoint store, please contact the school and you will be issued with a barcode.  Please be aware making a payment via the PayPoint network can take up to 48 hours to be credited.  Please see the enclosed list for the nearest PayPoint store to school or visit  Paypoint and enter your postcode. 

If you require any further information regarding this, please contact the school. 

How to make a withdrawal from your ParentPay account

During periods of adverse weather conditions, information will always be posted on our website and depending on the severity of the conditions, text messages will also be sent to parents.  Conditions will be monitored closely throughout the day with updates on any changes posted on the website.  

Background information about school closures 

We are sometimes asked why school closes during severe weather conditions. 

Firstly, we make every attempt to keep the school open.  The site supervisors clear snow and grit the school service road and paths. 

A decision to close the school is not taken lightly.  Our priority is the health and safety of students and staff.  Most of our staff live some distance from the school; if road conditions make it impossible for them to get to school we will not be able to provide adequate supervision for students.  So even though students who live close to school can get in during heavy snow, very few staff can do so (given the school’s location on a steep hill surrounded by narrow streets).  This is the main reason why the school may either open late (to allow extra time for staff to get to school) or not at all. 

There may also be rare occasions when we have to close early to enable staff and students to get home safely if conditions deteriorate during the day.  In this case, the building will always remain open, with supervision, for students to remain warm and dry until they are picked up or have made arrangements to go home. 

When school is open we expect students to make every effort to attend. 

On days when severe weather is forecast, the Headteacher is in contact with other members of the Senior Leadership Team and the site supervisor between 5.30am and 6.00am to assess the situation. Information is then posted on the school website and if there are changes to normal opening arrangements, texts are sent to parents. 

Please note that decisions about whether to close the school are not taken because of impact on league tables for attendance.  Attendance figures take conditions that are beyond the control of school and students into account. 

Punctuality is vital to achievement and attainment at Newfield School. If students are late to school they will receive a detention the same day. Please note that during a child’s journey to and from school they are representing the school and wearing the Newfield School uniform. Poor behaviour may lead to a sanction. Our most successful students are those with excellent attendance and punctuality. 

If travelling by bus your child needs to; 

• be safe and well behaved on the bus
• have a safe place to keep their bus pass and ticket
• know how to be on time and ready at the bus stop in the mornings

The bus service is run by First and the main bus routes serving the school are: 

• 718 – Manor Top to Newfield School 
• 20 – Olive Grove to Hemsworth 
• 723 – Heeley to Norton to Newfield School 

Safety 

Encouraging our students to walk and cycle to school eases congestion on the school drive and reduces pollution. The safety of our students on their way to and from school is of paramount importance to us. If your child cycles please ensure they are visible to other road users and pedestrians and wears high visibility clothing, lights, reflectors and a helmet. Walking to school provides an excellent opportunity to meet up with friends and extend their social network. When walking to school please ensure your child crosses the road safely and uses designated school paths. 

Uniform 

We take pride in our school. As ambassadors for our school, pupils are expected to look smart in appearance. Our uniform is aimed at offering pupils a professional  and purposeful outlook, reducing bullying by removing expensive branded items and giving a sense of community and belonging. 

All pupils must wear clean, presentable uniform. Parents will be contacted if this is not the case.  The school uniform expectations are as follows:

Burgundy blazer with school logo

Black polo shirt with school logo

Optional black knitted pullover or cardigan. This may be worn under the blazer if required for extra warmth 

 Black Tailored Trousers or Black Skirt

• Trousers must be tailored, straight legged and full length.
• Trousers should not be jeans, jeggings, leggings, chinos, leather, combat style or tracksuit bottoms. 
• Trousers should not be rolled up at the end of the trouser leg(s) / ankle grazers.
• Shorts should be plain black tailored shorts and finish at or below the knee. Lycra or leather shorts are not permitted.
• Pleated skirts are the only style of skirt permitted.  Pleated skirts should finish at or below the knee.  Lycra or tight-fitting skirts are not permitted.
• Skirts should be worn without being rolled up at the waist.
• Tights if worn should be plain, flesh-coloured or black.
• Plain black belt only.

 Plain Black Shoes

• All footwear must be plain black
• All shoes must be plain black shoes (not trainers or a trainer style) with flat soles – high heeled shoes are unsuitable for our school site.
• Hybrid shoes are not acceptable - pupils need a smart shoe.
• Shoes should be plain black  and logos are not acceptable.
• No peep toe shoes.
• This means logos, tongues and any visible sole must be plain black.
• Reflective markings are not allowed.
• Laces must be plain black
• Boots, high tops, ballet pump type shoes or plimsoles, canvas, sandals or open top types shoes are allowed.
• A substantial sole is recommended due to the nature of the school site.

These expectations are in place for the entire year, even in the winter months. In case of bad weather, pupils are welcome to bring a change of shoes to make the journey to and from school easier but will be expected to be in appropriate shoes during the school day.

Physical Education Uniform

• Burgundy t-shirt, burgundy Newfield School sweatshirt or hoodie - it MUST have the school logo on it.
• Plain black sports shorts, tracksuit bottoms or leggings - no large logos, stripes, or writing.
• Trainers can be any colour, but they must be suitable for sport with a cushioned sole and suitable grip for health and safety. No high-top, fabric shoes or fashion trainers are permitted.
• During PE lessons, headscarves must be tucked in for health and safety reasons.
• If pupils forget their PE kit, they will be provided with PE kit to take part in the lesson and issued with a detention.
• Pupils who attend school in PE uniform on a non-PE lesson day will receive a comment and be given school uniform to change in to.  

Headscarves worn for cultural reasons should be plain black with no patterns / markings. Headbands are allowed to be worn but must be plain with no additional adornment (s). 

We understand that uniform can be expensive.  We are committed to making sure we balance quality with affordability so that uniform lasts and withstands the demands of everyday school life.  School trousers, skirts, shoes and shorts or tracksuit bottoms for PE can be bought from any retailer.  We do not specify that these should be bought through our uniform supplier.   We always have a stock of clean uniform for pupils to borrow if needed.  We have donated/’pre-loved’ uniform in good condition if parents/carers would like to request items free of charge.  We will always support families who are struggling to provide uniform for their children.  Please contact Pupil Services for all uniform enquiries.

School uniform and PE uniform can be purchased through our supplier – Pinders. Alternatively, parents or carers can purchase non-branded uniform items but they must be in line with the uniform expectations outlined above.

There are three ways to purchase uniform items.

1. Online, with delivery to home or school - www.pindersschoolwear.co.uk
2. By an order form that can be left at school – the order will be sent to school for collection by the pupil
3. Directly at Pinders retail outlet at Crystal Peaks - Unit L, Peak Square, Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre, Sheffield, S20 7PQ, where pupils can try on different sizes. All school uniform items should be clearly labelled with the pupil’s name.

Only school uniform items may be worn in the building.  Blazers should be worn as the ‘outer layer’.  Blazers must be worn at all times on corridors. Blazers can be removed in lessons with the permission of the teacher. Please note changes to blazer guidelines may change during hot weather but these will be communicated to pupils and parents. Coats should not be worn inside the school building. Lockers are available for the storage of coats and other items.  Any pupil wearing additional nonu-niform items will be required to remove them and may be required to hand them over until the end of the day when they can be collected.   

Personal Appearance

Hair

Hair colour must be appropriate for school.  Extreme colours, for example, unnatural colours that brings undue attention to the pupil (as determined by the school) are not permitted.  Pupils who arrive at school with inappropriate hair colour will be required to go to the Reflection Room. Pupils will return to mainstream lessons once the situation is rectified. Hair beads should be relatively plain.

Make-up and False Nails

Make-up, if worn, should be discreet and appropriate for school.   In some cases, pupils may be expected to remove make-up at school if excessive. No false nails are permitted.

 Jewellery and Accessories

Excessive jewellery is not suitable for school and can be dangerous.  

Jewellery that may be worn are ear studs, one discreet nose stud and a watch (not Smart watch).  No other body piercings, including facial studs (eg lips, tongue, and eyebrow) or jewellery, including bracelets of any type (except watches or religious jewellery eg a Kara) are permitted. All jewellery must be removed for PE. The school reserves the right to ask pupils to remove any accessories which are deemed inappropriate. Any confiscated jewellery items will be available for collection by pupils at the end of the school day from Pupil Services. Bracelets, necklaces and chains will be confiscated and will be available for collection by pupils at the end of the school day from Pupil Services.

Other Accessories

Fashion accessories eg hats, caps, scarves, ornamental hairbands, ornamental belts and other ‘nonschool’ knitwear are not permitted. No Smart watches are permitted due to examination board regulations and possible phone style communication. Sunglasses are not permitted to be worn inside. Each individual pupil must accept responsibility for their own personal possessions and equipment whilst on the school site. Therefore, pupils should avoid bringing valuable items into school and we will not be held responsible for any item of uniform or equipment lost or stolen in school.

Mobile phones and Other Electronic Devices 

• Mobile phones and other electronic devices should not be used at any time during the school day both in the building and outside the building.
• Our policy still allows pupils to bring phones to school, but they must be switched off and out of sight throughout the school day.
• Pupils are not to contact parents/carers during the school day without permission. If this happens pupils are issued with a detention.
• Parents can expect communication from school if a child’s mobile phone is confiscated and we will check social media during an investigation if required. Parents would be contacted about this.
• Phones that are heard or seen being used will be confiscated. The phone will only be returned to a parent or carer who makes arrangements to collect it. In the event that this happens for a second time the mobile phone will be kept by the school for one week.