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Welcome to New Abbey Primary School

December 2020 Information at a Glance School Information The School Day New Abbey Primary From 9am - 3pm Main Street , New Abbey Break 10.30 - 10.50am Dumfries, DG2 8BY School Telephone number 01387 850256 Lunch 12.20 - 1pm

Email [email protected] Communicating with home Parent Council Chairperson Mrs Debbie Shuttleworth Mail Drop Wallet: This comes home every Friday. Please School Roll 35 return the next school day. Denomination Status Non-denominational News Bulletin: Emailed and displayed every Friday. Status of Gaelic Non-Gaelic Head Teacher Mrs Helen Anderson Email: In order to save paper, most of our letters will come via email. Please ensure you provide us with an School Staff address. Teaching Staff Text: Sometimes, we will text information. Our system allows one mobile number per family. P1-3 Teacher Ms Ellaine Monk Principal Teacher Class Dojo App: Our teachers use this app to share learning and as a means of communicating with home. P4-7 Class Teacher Miss Gemma Potts You can contact the teacher within working hours as P1-3 & P4-7 Class Teacher Mrs Emily Edgar well.

Support for Learning Teacher Ms Alison Kalotka Facebook: We have a closed Facebook page, PE Specialist Teacher Mrs Gail Currie New Abbey Rock Stars Parental Involvement information: Auxiliary Staff http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/schools Senior Clerical Assistant Mrs Heather Cussell https://www.parentclub.scot/ Learning Assistant Mrs Gill Wardrop Learning Assistant Mrs Lesley Currie Parentzone Scotland: https://education.gov.scot/parentzone Schools Facilities Assistant Mr Robert Robbins Catering Manager Mrs Avril McEwan School term dates can be found at: http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15239/ Cleaner Mrs Elaine Lockerbie School-term-and-holiday-dates Welcome from the Head Teacher School Aims, Values and Ethos Dear Parent / Carer New Abbey Primary sits within the small rural village of New Abbey, close to the Solway Firth. The school A warm welcome from New Abbey Primary. The is surrounded by countryside and is very much part of purpose of this handbook is to provide you with the key the local community. We are partnered with nearby information you will need as your child starts school. Kirkbean Primary; staff and pupils of both schools We are proud to be a part of a vibrant local community. collaborate regularly. Our school building has recently We look forward to working in partnership with you, been renovated and is bright with the children’s to provide the best school experience and education for work displayed throughout. The children at New your child. Abbey Primary have a fantastic outdoor play area and In line with the Education Bill (2015) and the National regularly learn outside. We are proud to be an Eco- Improvement Framework the school’s aim is to ensure School and even keep our own chickens! Last year, we that all children are able to reach their full potential worked together as a school community, to review and through: create new Vision, Values and Aims. Pupils, parents, staff and partners were involved throughout the • Improvement in attainment, particularly in literacy process. We created a memorable, visual representation and numeracy which includes children, ‘rising’ up in a hot air balloon. • Closing the attainment gap between the most and We are working hard to embed them in all aspects of least disadvantaged children school life.

• Improvement in children and young people’s health and wellbeing

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Helen Anderson Head Teacher Contact Us How the School Works The school welcomes suggestions and enquiries from Class Organisation parents and carers. We have two classes: P1-3 and P4-7. We have two If you need to find out something classrooms, a General Purpose (GP) Room and a dinner/ PE hall. We have a fantastic playground and access to We can be contacted by e-mail, telephone, group call Abbey Vale’s football pitch. text messages or face to face. Where it is not possible to resolve enquiries straight away, we will make Positive Behaviour and Celebrating Success arrangements to follow up as necessary with the most We have the highest expectations of behaviour at New appropriate member of staff. Abbey Primary. These expectations are reinforced in class and at assembly. Our children are encouraged If you have a comment or concern to be supportive of each other, showing kindness and A comment might be some brief feedback about how consideration. If issues arise, they are dealt with promptly we have handled a situation or delivered a service. It is and fairly. Pupils, parents and staff created a Positive best to pass a comment straight to the school so that Behaviour Agreement which includes anti-bullying we can take any necessary action. guidelines and is linked to our Vision, Values and Aims.

If you are not happy with the response you receive We have a House System and encourage our children or a decision that has been made, you can Ask to earn House Points. Each week, the winning House us to Look Again. You can do this by contacting gets a slightly longer break and to line up first for lunch. [email protected]. At this point an We use the Class Dojo app to let parents know when Officer will contact you and discuss the issue and share points have been won. Certificates can be earned when directly with you the outcome of this work. children demonstrate our Vision, Values and Aims. We have a Celebration Wall at the school entrance which Remember you can also access Dumfries & Galloway displays those who have won certificates. Each week, we Have Your Say at http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/ celebrate success at assembly. Children are encouraged article/17349/Have-your-say to share and reflect on the skills they learn in and out of school. School Meals School Meals, Naturally D&G local provenance for a sustainable future.

Detailed information on school meals is available at https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/schoolmenus

Pre-ordering lunch All menus are nutritionally analysed, offering a fantastic choice and flexibility. Primary schools have introduced an advanced pre order system for lunch. Pre order forms are handed out to all pupils.

Special dietary requirements School uniform For food allergy and intolerances; medically prescribed All Dumfries and Galloway schools have a dress code diets; or diets for religious or cultural reasons specific which encourages pupils to dress in a way appropriate meals for children of different ethnic origin may be to attendance at school. www.dumgal.gov.uk catered for. Ask the school for a registration form or call 030 33 33 3000 and ask for Facilities Operations At New Abbey Primary we have a very smart simple (Catering) uniform which consists of:

• dark trousers or skirt Free School Meals Free School Meals are provided for all pupils in Primary • red or white polo shirt or white shirt 1, 2 and 3. Younger children at nursery or older pupils • red school sweatshirt/cardigan or plain red at primary may also be eligible for free school meals in sweatshirt/cardigan certain situations as well as those families on qualifying benefits. • school fleece or outdoor jacket For more information on free school meal entitlement • sensible shoes visit http:// www.dumgal.gov.uk/schoolmeals or • a PE kit which includes trainers contact Education Support Services on 01387 260 493

• You may be asked to provide outdoor shoes or wellies as the children learn outside in all weathers. School Transport Free school transport is available for some school The sweatshirts, polo shirts and outdoor jackets children attending primary or secondary school if they featuring the school badge can be ordered and paid live within the school catchment area and if they meet for at any time throughout the year directly from the certain criteria. For more information and guidance Border Embroideries website: visit http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15245/Free- www.border-embroideries.co.uk school-transport School Clothing grants The award of clothing grants is to assist with the cost Attendance of school clothing for families who are on a qualifying It is your responsibility as parents to ensure that your benefit or on low income. The current award is £134 child/children attend school regularly. For the safety of all per child. Guidance and more information is available children it is important for you to telephone the school at http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15246/School- office prior to/at the beginning of the absence. Absences clothing-grants are recorded in class registers and frequent or irregular absences not supported by a reasonable excuse, will be notified to parents and the matter may be referred to the Opportunities for All Service. If possible please, try to make dental/medical appointments outwith school hours. However, if this is not possible please inform us in writing or by telephone of the appointment and arrange to collect your child from class.

More information: www.dumgal.gov.uk Absence from School is in our school. They are involved in decision making Pupils who need to leave school during the school day about their learning and about the running of the ie doctor /dentist appointments, must be collected by a school. We have three Pupil Parliament Groups which named contact confirmed with the school office. They meet roughly twice a term. This involves all children. must also report to the school office on their return to They are the Pupil Council, Gardening Group and school. Global Citizenship Group. House Captain candidates gave speeches to their Houses and anonymous voting resulted in three House Captains. They have extra Curriculum for Excellence responsibility throughout the year. Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is bringing learning to life in the way education is delivered for all 3-18year Home/School Partnership/Parental olds – in nursery, primary, secondary, at college, workplace or community learning. It aims to raise Involvement and Engagement standards, improve knowledge and develop skills, Parent Council and Parent Forum closing the gap between the lowest and highest Every parent who has a child at our school is a member performers. Ultimately it aims to nurture children of the Parent Forum. The parent council is a group and young people as successful learners, confident of parents who have chosen to represent the parent individuals, effective contributors and responsible forum. As a member of the Parent Forum, each parent citizens. can expect to:

Broad General Education • Receive information about the school and its Children and young people work their way through activities Experiences and Outcomes in each of the five • Hear about what partnership with parents means in Curriculum Levels (Early, First, Second, Third, Fourth) our school and in each of the eight Curricular Areas. The five Curricular Levels span pre-school to the end of S3. • Be invited to be involved in ways and times that suit This is the Broad General Education. Pupils progress you at their own pace, working through the Experiences • Identify issues you want the parent council to work and Outcomes of the most appropriate level for them. on with the school Pupils will be supported in collecting evidence of their achievements, with a profile of these being produced in • Be asked your opinion by the parent council on P7 and S3. issues relating to the school and education it provides Our curriculum is defined as the ‘totality of all that is planned for children and young people throughout • Work in partnership with staff their education’. That totality can be planned for and • Enjoy taking part in school life in whatever way experienced by learners across four contexts: 1) eight possible curriculum areas and subjects; 2) Inter-Disciplinary Learning (IDL) which allows curricular areas to be linked More information is available at http://www.dumgal. together; 3) opportunities for personal achievement gov.uk/article/17608/Parental-Involvement and 4) being involved in the ethos and life of the school More information and support for Parents/ Parent community. Councils is available at https://connect.scot/ Our children attend multi-composite classes, so all learning is differentiated according to age, stage and ability. We make regular use of our fantastic grounds and the surrounding area, for Outdoor Learning. We provide opportunities for children to learn skills for life and work. We encourage our children to be ambitious, challenging them to try different activities. School staff, Active Schools and parents/friends of the school give generously of their time and talents to provide pupils with the opportunity to take part in a variety of extra-curricular activities during and after school. We promote, celebrate and track Wider Achievement. The children are fully aware of how important their Voice Support for All Support for Learners Dumfries and Galloway Council is committed to the well-being and educational development of all learners. The process of inclusion requires all involved in the business of learning and teaching to demonstrate commitment, innovation and flexibility to ensure that all children and young people have access to quality learning opportunities and experiences.

More information is available at https://www.dumgal. gov.uk/article/16163/Support-for-Learners

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) Homework/Family Learning * You are the expert on your child and what you think Aims of Homework: matters. Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) means • To continue to build on prior learning that has taken that the School will always seek to involve you, to listen place in school to your opinions and take them seriously.

• To provide an opportunity for parents to become More information is available at more involved in their child’s learning www.dumgal.gov.uk/girfec

• To encourage each child to develop his/ her skills in Child Protection various contexts out-with the classroom All children have the right to be protected from harm, • To foster good home/school relations which benefit abuse and neglect. The vision for all children and young each child’s development people in Dumfries and Galloway is that they should be: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected At the start of P1, children are provided with a red, and responsible and included. Schools and front-line New Abbey Primary homework folder. This should be education and child care services will play an important checked every evening and returned to school each day. role in ensuring all children and young people are safe It will usually contain phonics homework. The amount and well. Further information can be found at http:// and frequency of home learning will vary throughout www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/16640/Support-for- the year, and will be managed by the teacher, with children-and-families regard to the needs of the children and home setting. Parents, carers and pupils have a key role in keeping Parents are encouraged to seize this opportunity to the school community safe. We would therefore urge work alongside their children and learn more about parents to share any information which would keep their child’s knowledge, skills and abilities. Effective everyone safe, and to support and encourage their two-way communication is essential; please make use child(ren) to do the same. of the homework diary or Class Dojo. We will provide guidance so that you feel confidently able to support your child with their learning. * Home Learning may be subject to change in light of Health and Safety/Covid 19.

How is my child doing? There will be several opportunities for you to discuss your child’s progress. This may be through informal discussion with the teacher or at Parents’ Nights/ Learning Conversations, formal reports or for some it may be through more formal, focussed meetings with other agencies.

Helping the School There are many things which as a parent you can do to support your child’s learning in school: www.dumgal. gov.uk/article/17608/Parental-Involvement Enrolment in Schools and Transitions Health and Safety Information on enrolment in school and catchment Emergency Procedures areas is available at http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/ If your child feels ill during the school day and we feel article/15241/School-places Information regarding that he/she would be better at home, we will telephone catchment areas can be found on the Council’s website you or your emergency contact. Minor accidents, e.g. by accessing “Find My Nearest”. cuts, bruises, are dealt with by the school staff. Serious accidents are few, but should one occur your child School Improvements will be immediately taken either to your doctor or In May/June of each year, the school publishes a to hospital, if necessary, and you or your emergency Standards & Quality Report providing all stakeholders contact will be notified. We cannot stress enough the with a comprehensive summary of the school’s work importance of supplying the school with the relevant and learners’ achievements over the last year. The first information we require in such a situation, i.e. your part of this report provides an overview of the school’s own home and work number and a telephone number progress in addressing its key priorities, while the of an emergency contact. Please remember that if second part gives information about, for example, how your child stays in more than one home setting contact well pupils are learning and achieving; how well the details should take account of this. school is supporting children/young people to develop Severe Weather and School Closure and learn. In June, we publish a School Improvement Arrangements Plan which outlines the key priorities for the school during the year ahead, following engagement with Headteachers are authorised to make an emergency staff, pupils and parents. closure when the state of the weather or any other exceptional circumstance make it necessary in the Our School Improvement is planned in collaboration best interests of the pupils. In these circumstances with our partner school, Kirkbean Primary. Parents are parents will be communicated with in a variety of ways given the opportunity to view and give feedback on including text messages/ phone calls and emergency our School Improvement Plan. A pupil-friendly version contact arrangements. All school closures will be is on display in each school. Staff Development sessions notified on the Council Website. are planned for the year and relate directly to the Plan. http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15240/ This is also on display and is highlighted in green as Emergency-school-closures we progress through the year. Next steps will include involving the children in school improvement using Data Protection Education Scotland’s How Good is OUR School. Information on how the Council uses personal Session 2020/21 priorities include: data is available at https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/ article/15129/Data-protection and https://www. 1. Literacy: Reviewing our programmes of learning: dumgal.gov.uk/privacy Talking & Listening, Reading and Writing.

2. Skills Development: Improve how we track the skills ICT in Schools children are learning in school and at home. For more information on ICT in school please see page 19 of the Education Authority Handbook 3. Health and Wellbeing: Launch our new HWB programme of learning, introduce Relationships Use of the Internet, Social Networking Sites and Sexual Health Partnership learning experiences and formally begin our Rights Respecting Schools As part of the process of learning we allow our journey. children supervised access to the Internet and e-mail. The authority runs its own filter system to ensure that young people are not at risk from exposure to inappropriate material. This filtering system is regularly being upgraded. We have a policy for use of the Internet and a contract for responsible use, which we ask parents and young people to sign up to. Safe Digital Learning and Social Media