Useful Information

We communicate school information with parents in a number of ways, letters and messages relevant to school are sent through our email system and via an App. We also communicate school news through a bi-weekly newsletter and through the school website and social media. Please ensure we have your most up-to-date contact and email address in order to ensure email correspondence can reach you.

We send information out electronically in order to facilitate timely communication and to try and reduce the environmental impact of using large volumes of paper resources. However, we are able to print letters and literature for you. Please contact Mrs Deer if you require a printed version of information.

Should you wish to contact a member of staff please visit /525/staff-email-list for their email contact details. Please be aware that staff will be teaching and may not respond to your message immediately.

EduLink One communication system.

This is an App/Website for parents, carers and students. The Edulink One system has an easy to use interface. Please see a Guide to Logging in. 

If you require any help accessing EduLink One please contact Mrs C Deer, cdeer@forest.academy

Possible Bad Weather

Any school closure information, due to bad weather, will be posted online. Updates will also be available on local radio stations, and via the 'Borough Alert' on Wokingham Borough Council's website.

Local radio stations include: Berkshire Radio, Reading 107 and Heart FM.

Our Cashless Catering System was purpose designed to meet the ever evolving needs and demands of the catering provision that is required by today’s Schools and Academies. This allows us to be better able to provide our students with a faster, more efficient and more appealing meal service. Please read the following document for more information

We are pleased to offer details of The Forest School’s 121 Chromebook Scheme. The Forest School successfully introduced the Chromebook into the classroom developing the use of the Google suite as well as enhancing the use of digital learning resources to support rapid progress for all our students.

The expectation is that all students have a school approved Chromebook to support their classroom learning every day in school.  It is therefore essential that every student, in this year group, is equipped with the device.  

We have worked with our students to select a device that will be used across the school. This has been selected on the basis of cost and durability. The selected device is the Lenovo 300e, click here to view, and the following purchase options are available:

Orders should be placed via The Freedom Technology portal: https://www.tech4learners.co.uk with the login Username; Forest2024 and Password: S3cure02! which will be open from Monday 11 November 2024 until Friday 10 January 2025.  Direct Debit payments will be taken on Saturday 25 January 2025.  

If you have any further queries regarding the scheme please use the contact us section on The Freedom Tech website or sallen@forest.academy.

Finance Office

The school Finance Office sells:

HOW WILL I HEAR ABOUT SCHOOL TRIPS?

The school will write to you when a trip is first advertised - by email if we have your address, otherwise a paper copy will be given to your son to bring home to you. If insufficient monies are received, the trip may be cancelled.

HOW DO I BOOK MY SON'S PLACE?

Your son's place can be booked by completing the Parental Consent form (an EV2), and returning it with the payment/deposit if requested. The EV2 ensures we have your emergency contact details and any health issues your son may have that we should be aware of - your son cannot go  on a trip without having a completed EV2.  Download the EV2 form by clicking the link below.

We prefer you to pay on-line, but  you can pay by cash or cheque (payable to The Forest School). To make a payment click this link: https://www.scopay.com/forest.

ONLINE PAYMENTS

If possible please pay on-line for your child's school trips

Paying on-line for the first time

Step 1 - You need your email address and your child’s name & form e.g. Paul Smith - 9 Langdale. Email this info to onlinepayments@forest.wokingham.sch.uk or click here, to request your personal Online Link Code specific to your child.

Step 2 - You will then receive info which shows you how to register.

Make a payment

To make a payment click this link: https://www.scopay.com/forest

If you have a query contact the school’s Finance team at finance@forest.academy or click here. Your bank statement will show 'The Forest School' when you make an on-line payment.

• What happens if my son is late?  Punctuality is very important. If your son arrives at school after morning registration has finished, he must sign in at the Reception sign In screen and choose the appropriate reason for his late arrival.

• Persistent lateness. We sanction students who are persistently late. Students will receive a series of detentions if they are late twice or more in a term. If persistent lateness occurs, the Head of Year or Attendance Supervisor will be in contact with you.
• What if my son is ill?  Do not send your son to school if he is ill before school starts; please notify the school by phone 0118 978 1626 select option 1, this will put you through to the Attendance phone. Please leave a message on the answerphone.  You will also need to notify the school on each subsequent morning of his absence. 

• A written note detailing the reason for absence must be provided to your son’s Year Tutor on the day he returns to school. If your child becomes sick during the school day, his subject teacher, Tutor or Head of Year will send him to the Medical Room, where he will be assessed by a First Aider and receive treatment if appropriate. If your son is deemed too ill to remain at school, you will be contacted and arrangements made to send him home. Please ensure that your emergency contact details are correct and kept up to date - any changes can be sent to the school via office@forest.academy

• For information regarding COVID please read this letter.

• What if my son needs a medical appointment?  Medical appointments for your son to see a doctor, dentist etc should be made outside school hours. If this is not possible, please contact the school office as soon as possible by phone or email PupilAbsence@forest.academy  with the appointment time and date to ensure your son’s Tutor is made aware of it.

• EV2
• End of Trip Form
• Leave of Absence Request
• Request for School to Store Medication
• Complaints Form 
• Use of Crutches
• Carrying Medication
• Emergency Medical Form Opt Out Form
• Pupil Premium in-School Assistance Request Form
• Free School Meals  - Do you qualify?
• Free School Meals Application Form

Where can my son get his lunch or a snack?

The School uses the ScoPay system to enable you to make payments for lunches, trips, subject contributions such as Art, Food Tech etc.  Here are some useful guides to help you navigate the system:

• ScoPay Parent Guide - Alerts
• ScoPay Parent Guide - Making Payments
• ScoPay Parent Guide - Managing your Account
• ScoPay Parent Guide - Monthly Billing

Welcome to the The Forest School Sports Website.  Here you will be able to view:

• A calendar of current and forthcoming fixtures
• Venues
• Results
• Match stats
• School contacts...

...and much more!  The site is developing gradually and will include match photos, team sheets and Inter-House competitions. 

Travelling to & from school

The school actively encourages pupils to walk to school, or travel by bike and public transport. See below for more details on this.

For travel advice and information in and around Wokingham Borough please visit My Journey Wokingham 

• School Transport is run via Wokingham Borough Council. They provide a school bus service, which is run by White Bus Company and Horseman Coaches.
• There are three school bus services, the M12, M13 and M14. For more details please click here 
• There are several Public Bus Routes that students can also use.
• The 128/9, 202, 204 and X4. More information is readily available by clicking here 

Please click here for the current routes the buses take. These lists are correct at the time of publishing, but please do check your journey details prior to travelling.

Pre-loved Uniform

We have a limited range of second hand uniform available for purchase. Please use Scopay to purchase items or contact the Finance Team for more information email  finance@forest.academy.  Second hand items for sale include: Blazers, White PE shirt, Rugby shirt, PE shorts.

Donations of Uniform

We appreciate donations of uniform and PE/games kits. Please drop your donations in at the school reception. Thank you.