Firstly, a policy is a formalised statement which clearly outlines what an organisation intends to do, its future goals, its rules and/or its guidelines. You may have come into contact with "illness policies" at work or at school.
Many organisations/institutions (such as schools) create policies so that their employers, employees, and the public have a unified vision about their institutions intentions, objectives and rules.
Policies are important because they provide clarity where there may be confusion or misunderstandings. They also provide a way of check listing goals and providing consistency.
An organisation, who wants to be taken seriously and who is not afraid of accountability will proudly show/highlight their policies to the public and make them aware.
I am of the belief that all schools should have a numeracy and literacy policy.
A school who has a literacy and numeracy policy will understand that policies are important for teachers, parents and student progress.
Teachers will understand which aspects of literacy and numeracy their school is targeting and the objectives they need to work towards.
Parents will benefit from these policies too as they will have a clear understanding of what their school is trying to achieve.
Policies should be regularly updated. Once certain objectives are met, they are no longer in need of attention and new objectives should take their place.
If you are choosing a school for your child, it is a good idea to ask if your school has a literacy and a numeracy policy. Any school who considers literacy and numeracy to be important will have one.