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AGUIDE TO EDUCATION SERVICES
Successful Learners Confident Individuals Responsible Citizens Effective Contributors
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk AGUIDE TO EDUCATION SERVICES
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk s t n e Section 1 Page 1 Welcome t n o C Section 2 Page 3 Enrolment
Section 3 Page 10 Responsibilities, Rights & Regulation
Section 4 Page 15 Support for Learners
Section 5 Page 31 Health and Safety
Section 6 Page 36 Nursery / School Listings
Section 7 Page 45 Special Schools
Section 8 Page 46 Learning Support Services
Section 9 Page 50 Community Centres
Section 10 Page 54 Library and Information Services
Section 11 Page 58 Useful Contacts
Section 12 Page 61 Comments, Complaints & Feedback e Welcome to Aberdeen City Council’s m
o Guide to Education Services for Parents c l
e Welcome to our Guide for Parents. The aim of this guide is to provide you with the information you will need about all the local authority education services available in W Aberdeen. I hope you find it informative and easy to use.
Our aim in Aberdeen is to be a City of Learning. We believe that high quality services delivered through schools, library and information services and community learning will enable children, families and communities to obtain the education and skills they will need throughout life. We are proposing that schools and other places where learning happens will become learning hubs in each community.
Our vision and values are set out in our learning strategy. We want Aberdeen to be a place which recognises, values and celebrates learning; a place where all sectors work together to ensure access to learning; a place where citizens accept learning as an essential and integral part of their lives; and a place where citizens take responsibility for learning throughout their lives. We want to make sure that our children and young people get the best possible start in life and high quality learning experiences.
We believe that through education we are helping children and young people achieve their full potential. Parents and families have a key role as first and main educators to support children and young people to get the best from their educational experiences. We also believe that by working with parents in a creative and innovative way we can develop the resilience, health and well being of our children.
Scotland has introduced the Curriculum for Excellence. This approach to delivering the curriculum will help to ensure that children and young people become: Successful learners; Confident individuals; Responsible citizens; and Effective contributors.
These improved outcomes will be at the heart of learning in our pre-school nurseries, schools, community activities, additional support needs services and the music, arts, culture, sport, drama, outdoor learning, museums and galleries and library and information services we provide.
I hope this booklet helps you understand the services we deliver in the city, access those services and that you and your child enjoy a safe, happy and fruitful experience in all of our services.
Annette Bruton Director, Education, Culture and Sport January 2012 1 Introduction
The aim of this guide is to provide you with information about the education, culture and sport services that are available in the city and the contact details of schools, learning support services and library and information services. It also provides you with information about the government legislation that relates to education services.
Our community planning vision in Aberdeen is that all children and young people should enjoy being young and we will be a city where children and young people are safe, nurtured, healthy and active; are included, respected and responsible; achieve their full potential; and are supported to participate in decisions that affect them.
The vision also reflects the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and embraces international, national and local policies and priorities. The council and its community planning partners have agreed that we will work together to: • Get It Right for Every Child by ensuring a common, co-ordinated approach across all agencies that supports the delivery of appropriate, proportionate and timely help to all children as they need it; • promote and deliver integrated services of the highest quality; • ensure that services are accessible to all and promote the rights and responsibilities of those who use them; • raise achievement; and • reduce inequality.
The council therefore aims to provide good quality, continually improving education, music, art, sport, drama, outdoor learning and library services to meet the needs of individual children and young people to support them to reach their full potential.
The council provides nursery, primary, secondary and additional support needs education (including educational psychology), and youth and communities services. It offers Gaelic and Roman Catholic denominational education and secures additional pre-school education from voluntary and private sector organisations. All council schools are co-educational (pupils of both sexes). Primary schools are normally for children from nursery through to primary 7. All secondary schools are six-year comprehensives.
The council also provides a range of complementary learning opportunities including family learning, outdoor education, culture, music, art and sport.
The council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee oversees the education, culture and sport policy for the city.
Notes: 1. Where we use the word “parents” this refers to anyone with parental responsibilities, a guardian, and/or any person who is liable to maintain or has parental responsibilities (within the meaning of Section 1(3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) in relation to a child, or has care of a child or young person.
2. All the contact details in this guide are correct as at January 2012. For the most up to date information please contact the Family Information Service on 01224 814803 or visit the FIS website www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/fis . 2 t
n Enrolment e All schools have the same start date in the middle of August each year. This year, the m l first day of term is 21 August 2012. Nursery and primary children may have a phased o r start date. n E Pre-School Education Entitlement A child may start nursery in the school term after his/her third birthday.
The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 defines the three school terms as follows:
Autumn Term August to December Spring Term January to March Summer Term April to July
Children in their immediate pre-school year are entitled to a whole year of pre-school education. Children in their ante-pre-school year are entitled to a place in the school term following their third birthday as follows:
Month of Birth Entitled to place from: January to February April - After the Easter Holidays
March to August August – After the Summer holidays, children may start once they have reached the age of three
September to December January – After the Christmas holidays
Applying for a Nursery Place If you wish your child to attend a local authority nursery class, you should apply for a place directly to the school of your choice. Applications for session 2012-13 will be available from 16 January. Applications received before 10 February will be included in the main round of allocations in March. If you miss the deadline for the first round of allocations, you may still apply for a place before the start of term or during the school year.
The council also commissions pre-school education from private, independent and voluntary sector pre-school education providers. If you wish to access a place at one of these pre-school centres, you should contact the provider of your choice to negotiate a place.
A list of registered pre-school education centres in your area can be obtained from the Family Information Service (FIS) (See useful contacts page 58).
3 Primary/Secondary Education Aberdeen City Council has a zoning policy for all primary and secondary schools in the city. All schools serve a local “zone” which has been determined by the council. The school zones are known as delineated areas in the legislation and the 2012-2013 school zones can be found on page 36.
Parents have the right to ask for their children to be enrolled in a school other than the local zoned school, and the authority has a duty to agree to such requests whenever possible.
Zones exist (a) to ensure that school places are locally available to children within the delineated area; (b) for the purpose of determining the right to provision of transport; and (c) for determining priorities (if required) in relation to admission of children to schools.
The authority reserves the right to vary school zones from time to time in order to take into account demographic or other factors. This will be done in accordance with local and national consultation guidelines and requirements. In order to address the needs of families affected by variations in zones and who wish younger children to attend the same school as elder brothers or sisters in continuing education at that school, the younger children will continue to be regarded as living in-zone.
Parents are advised that they should always check the zone in which their existing or proposed address lies. This can be obtained from the School Placements, Education, Culture and Sport, Business Hub 13, Second Floor North, Marischal College, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB, telephone 01224 522753.
Roman Catholic Education Roman Catholic education is available to primary children from Roman Catholic families. School zones have been defined in relation to the three primary schools Holy Family, St Peter’s and St Joseph’s Primary Schools.
Parents of children from Roman Catholic families will be asked to establish eligibility for this provision by producing the child’s Baptism Certificate. Roman Catholic provision is delivered via peripatetic service in secondary schools.
Enrolling a Child for Primary School All children who will reach the age of five on or before the start of the new school session in August 2012 should begin to attend primary school in August 2012. Children who reach the age of five after the start of the new school session in August 2012 but before the last day of February 2013 may also be enrolled for primary school in August 2012.
Where a parent wishes to enrol his/her child in a particular school, parents should contact the head teacher of that school. All children are admitted to primary school on a phased basis.
4 t Deferred Entry to School n Children who are four in January or February, whose parents request that their entry to e primary school is deferred, are entitled to an additional year of publicly funded part m l time pre-school education. Parents should apply directly to the school. o r Parents of children born between the start of the school year and the last day of n December are able to request an additional year of publicly funded part time E pre-school education but these requests are at the discretion of the local authority. Decisions about these deferred entry requests are made by a multi agency panel in February each year.
Early Entry to Primary 1 Parents can request early entry to primary school. The authority does not normally admit children who are five after the February 2013 closing date. Applications for early entry to primary 1 are considered by the head teacher of the school you have selected. They will assess the child’s ability and aptitude on behalf of the authority but must consider wider issues including whether the primary class can suitably to meet the needs of the child.
Attendance at a particular primary school does not mean that a child will transfer to the secondary school with which that school is associated. It is therefore very important that when you are choosing a primary school that you take into consideration matters of continuity of education and friendship groups. Such continuity cannot be guaranteed at the time of transition from primary to secondary school if a child is attending a primary school for which they are not zoned by address.
Enrolling in Secondary School In the case of children transferring from primary to secondary education, all primary schools complete a transfer schedule in December. This contains the names of the children in the primary 7 year group who meet the criteria for transfer. This document is updated in the following February.
Transfer schedules are passed to the secondary schools to which children are zoned by address (since not all children in the primary 7 year group will necessarily transfer to the same secondary school). This takes place once addresses and other key information have been checked and validated by the primary school.
Children whose names appear on the transfer schedule are placed first in their zoned secondary school before any other children are admitted. The children who will transfer will be those who meet one or more of the following criteria: • are ordinarily resident within the zone of the secondary school before 15 March; or • have a brother or sister already in attendance at a specified school but subsequently live at an out-of-zone address in relation to that school as a result of the authority varying the school zone (This will only apply where the brother or sister is in continuing education at the school); or • have additional support needs which have previously been assessed by an educational psychologist of Aberdeen City Council and that the child’s needs can only be met at a specified school.
5 A child’s ordinary place of residence means the place where that child lives with his/her parent/s.
School Leaving Age The authority has a duty to provide education for children (up to age 16) and the power to provide education to young persons (up to age 18). The school leaving dates are the last day in May (mainstream schools) and the appropriate date in December (usually the last day of school in December). The summer leaving date may be extended to end of session in special schools.
Placing Requests/Out of Zone Admissions Placing requests may only be made for children who are of school age or eligible to attend school because they will be five by the February cut-off date.
Parents have a right (with no obligation to give reasons, although these allow the request to be prioritised) to make a request to the Education, Culture and Sport Service to have his/her child enrolled in the school of his/her choice. A young person (i.e. someone over school age but less than 18 years of age) has the same rights relating to placing requests in place of his/her parents. This right can be exercised at any time and not just at the time of admission to school or transfer from one school to another.
Except for the transition between primary and secondary school when transfer schedules apply, parents should make a placing request if their child is in attendance at a school out with the zone in which they live and they wish the child to attend the zoned school. There is no guarantee that siblings of children attending a primary school for which they are not zoned will be granted a place at that school (see criteria above).
Placing request forms can be found on the council’s website, www.aberdeencity.gov.uk. Completed forms can be returned by email to: [email protected].
School placing request (SPR) forms can also be obtained from any school, or by contacting 01224 522753 or 01224 522609.
Information provided in all written placing requests will be thoroughly checked for accuracy including validating the parental address.
Where a school’s capacity is likely to be exceeded, the following list of priorities will be applied in granting places.
1 Residence within Zone This applies to children who: (a) move into a zone after 15 March in a given year, or (b) are already in the zone but not attending their zoned school
6 t 2 Family n Where either an older brother or a sister is already in attendance at the specified e school, and will be in continuing education at the school at the time of admission. m l 3 Childcare o r Where parent(s) are working and have to transport the child out with the school zone in n which they are resident in order that the child can be cared for by a responsible adult E other than their parents out with normal school hours (that is, at the beginning and end of the school day). This must be on the basis that there is existing, ongoing childcare in the zone relating to the school applied for at the time of application and the name and address of the carer can be verified as a bona fide carer or childminder.
4 Others Where none of the above applies e.g. friendship groups, transport arrangements, and family employment circumstances, precedence is given to pupils within each priority who are ordinarily resident within the zone of a school that lies within the boundaries of the city. Ranking within a priority grouping will be on the basis of direct distance between home (ordinary place of residence) and school, except where the parents of a child living within zone have to apply for a place in the school as they fall into the categories indicated in 1 (a) or 1 (b) above. Here, precedence will be determined by the date of taking up ordinary residence in the zone.
The above guidelines will normally apply. However, placing requests may be granted where exceptional circumstances exist.
Placing Request Decisions The authority is bound by legislation to inform a parent in writing of its decision on the placing request within statutory timescales. This is currently two months from the date that the request is received. Where the authority decides to refuse the request, it must give written reasons for its decision and inform the parent of his/her right to refer the matter to an appeals committee.
If the decision is not made within the statutory timescales it is deemed to have been refused and the parent has the right to refer the deemed refusal to an appeals committee.
Where a place is granted parents will receive a letter directly from the school and should reply accepting or declining the place within fourteen days. When no reply is received within fourteen days a further letter will be issued with a final seven days to reply, after which the offer of a place will be withdrawn.
When accepting a place, parents should immediately notify their zoned school in writing to inform them that they will not be taking up their place in August of that year.
Placing Request Timescales Where the application is for entry in August, the authority is required to give an answer to the placing requests received by 15 March by the 30 April. In cases where the time of entry requested is other than August, the authority has two months to give a decision from the date of the request. In each case, if the parent has not received a
7 decision within the timescale above, the placing request is deemed to have been refused.
All placing requests made on or after 16 March, for admission in August of that year will be considered and decided after the requests made before 15 March have been decided and notified.
Reasons for Placing Request Refusals The legislation states that the authority can refuse a placing request in terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 as amended, if placing the child in a requested school would: • make it necessary for the authority to take an additional teacher into employment; • give rise to significant expenditure on extending, or otherwise altering, the accommodation at, or facilities provided in connection with, the school; • be seriously detrimental to the continuity of the child’s education; • be likely to be seriously detrimental to order and discipline in the school; • be likely to be seriously detrimental to the educational well-being of the pupils attending the school; • assuming that pupil numbers remain constant, make it necessary at the commencement of a future stage of the child’s primary education, for the authority to elect either to create an additional class (or an additional composite class) in the specified school or to take an additional teacher into employment at that school; or • even if neither of the tests set out in sub-paragraphs 1 and 2 above is satisfied, have the consequence that the capacity of the school would be exceeded in terms of pupil numbers.
The authority may also refuse a placing request if: • the education normally provided at the specified school is not suited to the age, ability or aptitude of the child; • the authority has already required the child to discontinue his/her attendance at the specified school; • the specified school is a special school and the child does not have additional support needs requiring the special educational facilities normally provided at the school.
The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 as amended allows authorities to reserve places in certain schools if it anticipates those places will be required for families moving into an area. At the time of publication this applies only to specified secondary and primary schools.
Appealing Against a Decision Parents have the right to appeal against refusals and deemed refusals of placing requests. Appeals should be lodged within 28 days of receipt of the letter of refusal or the timescale for making a decision has expired. Parents should bear in mind the following: • they cannot appeal against the refusal of a place in a nursery class; • they can only appeal once a year for each of their children;
8 t • they should lodge the appeal no later than 28 days after they receive the authority’s n letter of refusal or the timescale for making a decision has expired; and e • they can only appeal against refusal or deemed refusal of a place in their first m l choice school, if they have submitted a placing request in relation to more than o one school. r n Lodging an Appeal E Appeals can be made by sending a letter of appeal to the Director of Corporate Governance (Placing Request Appeal) Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen AB10 1AQ giving the child’s full name, the school you wish him/her to attend and your reasons for appealing against the decision.
Consideration of Appeals Appeals against placing refusals are heard by an Appeals Committee, which comprises members of the Council and external members with experience of education in the city.
Further details on appeals can be obtained by calling 01224 522753 and requesting a Choosing A School booklet produced by the Scottish Government. This document is also available on the Scottish Government website: www.scotland.gov.uk .
Additional Support Needs Provision The authority has a range of services to support children with additional support needs (ASN). This includes ASN bases in primary and secondary schools; specialist provision for children on the autistic spectrum; language and dyslexic (Specific Learning Difficulties) units; and special schools.
The authority also maintains a range of support services such as Educational Psychology, Sensory Support, English as an Additional Language and the Pre School ASN Services. The authority has a policy of inclusion and most children with additional support needs attend their local school or another school within the associated schools group (ASG) in order to have their needs met. Admissions to ASN provision are determined each year in November and December. Information about the process is available from each school, or by contacting 01224 522695.
Parents also have a right to make a placing request for special school provision. In the case of a placing request refusal regarding special schools, parents have the right to make a referral to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland (ASNTS). Information about ASNTS and making a referral can be found via the Scottish Government website, www.asntscotland.gov.uk/asnts.
Guidelines for placing requests for children and young people with additional support needs can be found in the ASL Implementation Guide. Copies of this guide are available in all schools. Placing request forms should be submitted to the Head of Schools and Educational Establishments. For further information please contact 01224 522695.
9 Responsibilities, Rights and Regulation n o i t
Children (Scotland) Act 1995 a l
The Act sets out a statutory statement of parental responsibilities and rights and u clarifies the law on guardianship. It requires parents and other persons having parental g responsibilities and rights to consider, as far as practicable, their children’s views when e R making decisions which affect them. The way in which this affects education service policies and procedures is detailed below. d n a
Parental Responsibilities and Rights s
The Act defines who has parental responsibilities and rights and they retain parental t
responsibilities and rights unless they are removed by a court. These are: h g • the child’s mother; i R
• the parents of a child who are married and are either living together or are separated; , s
• the parents of a child who were married but are now divorced; e i t
the father of a child who is not married to the child’s mother but who has reached i l an agreement under Section 4 of the Act with the child’s mother and registered i b
that agreement in the Books of Council and Session in Edinburgh; i
• the father of a child who is not married to the child’s mother but is registered as the s child’s father in a birth register in the UK after 4 May 2006; n o • any person, as directed by the court e.g. where the court has made a residence p
order in favour of an unmarried father or a grandparent. s e
Parents must comply with their responsibilities only insofar as it is practicable to do so R and in the interests of the child. Their responsibilities are to: • safeguard and promote the child’s health, development and welfare until the age of 16; • provide direction until the age of 16 and guidance until the age of 18; • maintain regular contact with the child until he or she is 16; and • act as legal representative until the child is 16.
Parents have the right to: • have the child living with them or to regulate where a child under 16 lives; • direct and guide the child’s upbringing; • maintain contact; and • act as legal representative.
The local authority has made provision for both parents to give their consent when major decisions are being made about their child’s education e.g. admission to school, school excursions. However, it should be noted that under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, each parent may exercise parental rights without the consent of the other.
10 Therefore the authority will not delay implementing a decision if there is only one n
o signature. The exception to this is excursions involving travel out with the UK. In this i t case, written consent from both parents exercising parental responsibilities and rights a l must be given if the child is to participate. u g Parental Rights to Information e Parents have equal entitlement to information about their child’s progress e.g. school R
reports, access to pupil records, and to be involved in making decisions about their d child’s education. n a
Information about your child’s educational progress will normally only be made s routinely available to the parents or other person having parental responsibilities and t
h rights with whom the child lives. Such information will be available, on request, to a g parent having parental responsibilities and rights who does not live with the child. This i does not include information about day to day administrative school matters. Such R
, requests must be submitted to the school in writing by the person who claims to have s parental responsibilities and rights. If their name has not been registered with the e i school then appropriate documentary evidence will be required to support the claim. t i l i Considering your Child’s Views b i Under Section 6 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, parents and other people that s have parental responsibilities and rights must consider, so far as is practicable, their n
o child’s views when making decisions that affect him/her. This includes decisions about p his/her education e.g. which school is attended, subject choices. The importance s parents attach to those views will depend on the child’s age and maturity but children e over 12 are presumed in law to be old enough to express views. R Parents are asked to ensure that their child’s school knows the names and addresses of those who have parental responsibilities and rights and to let them know if this information changes. Parents are asked to consider your child’s view when making major decisions about their education e.g. which school they are to attend, S3 course choices.
Parent Forum and Parent Councils All parents are automatically members of the parent forum at their child’s school. As a member of the parent forum you will be encouraged to support events and activities at the school and to get involved in your child’s learning. Each forum may set up a parent council. Parent councils will work in partnership with pupils, the head teacher and Aberdeen City Council in the interests of their school. The role of the parent council is to: • support the school in its work with pupils; • represent the views of all parents; • encourage links between the school, parents, pupils, pre-school groups and the wider community; • report back to all the parents in the school (parent forum).
11 The head teacher at your child’s school will be able to provide you with the names of current parent council members, the method of election to the parent council, and the timing of any forthcoming election. Parents who enrol their children in a school should ensure that they are registered on the voting roll for the parent council associated with that school. All parents have the right to stand for election to the parent council, providing they are nominated. Schools often have other parent groups which may be of interest to you. Please contact the school to find out more about getting involved.
City Wide Parent Council Meetings and Forum As part of our communication with parents, the authority arranges termly meetings with all of the parent council’s of mainstream and special schools in the city and also supports a city wide representative parent council forum. The Aberdeen City Parent Council Forum (ACPCF) consists of up to twenty-four representatives, two drawn from each associated schools group (ASG). The ACPCF has two parent representatives on the council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee.
ASN Parents’ Forum The ASN Parent’s Forum meets each term (i.e. 4 times each school year) The meetings are opportunities for parents to meet and discuss education matters amongst themselves and with Aberdeen City Council officers.
Quality Assurance and Regulation As part of an ongoing programme of quality improvement, schools are required to prepare School Improvement Plans. These are submitted annually to the authority. Parents may view these plans and make comment individually or through representatives on the parent council.
Each school produces a prospectus or handbook containing information about the school. This is available, on request, from the head teacher. You will also be encouraged to visit the school with your child. All schools include the following information in their prospectus: • budgeted school running costs; • attendance and absence performance by stage; • attainment performance - primary and secondary schools only; • school leaver destinations - secondary and special schools only; and • examination results - secondary schools only.
Information on schools may also be found at the Education Scotland Scottish Schools Online facility at: www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/index.asp
Education Scotland is responsible for inspecting and evaluating the quality of all nursery, school, teacher education, communities team services, further education and local education authorities. If you are a parent or carer looking for information on a school which your child attends, or might attend, you will find the inspection reports which will tell you about the quality of education in the school at www.educationscotland.gov.uk
12 Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland, known as the Care Inspectorate, n
o regulates day care services for children and young people up to the age of sixteen i t years. The services covered include pre-school nursery classes, crèches, after school a l clubs and playgroups. Schools and centres delivering these services are inspected u regularly by the Care Inspectorate. g e You can find out more about the Care Inspectorate and any regulated service at R
www.careinspectorate.com. If you want to make a complaint about a registered d daycare service you can contact the Care Inspectorate in writing or by telephone. n Full contact details are listed in the useful contacts page 59. a s t Data Protection h g i The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA 1998) provides protection for individuals’ personal
R data. It applies to both computer records and paper records. Examples of personal
, data relating to your child that may be held by your child’s school include information s given on the admission forms, student records, pupil progress reports and e i
t examination marks. i l i The DPA 1998 sets out eight principles of good information handling which must be b i followed by those who process personal data. These principles provide that personal s
n data must be: o • processed fairly and lawfully; p
s • obtained for only specified and lawful purposes; e • adequate, relevant and not excessive;
R • accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; • processed in accordance with the rights of the person whom the information is about; • protected against unauthorised or unlawful processing, and against accidental loss or destruction; • must not be kept for longer than is necessary; and • must not be transferred out with the European Economic Area.
Admission Forms When your child starts at a new school you will be asked to provide information about them on an admission form. The admission form includes a data protection statement which details the following: • the purpose(s) for which your child’s data will be processed; • whether any of your child’s data will be disclosed to any other organisations. In some cases parents have the right to object to personal data about their child being disclosed, and in this case the admission form details how such an objection can be made.
13 All personal data in relation to pupils or their families which is held by the school or the education authority will be handled in accordance with: • the Data Protection Act 1998; • the Human Rights Act 1998; • the common law duty of confidentiality; • the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002; • Pupil Educational Records (Scotland) Regulations 2003.
Information about the Data Protection Act 1998 can be obtained from the UK Information Commissioner’s website at www.ico.gov.uk. Information about the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 can be obtained from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Website at www.itspublicknowledge.info.
14 s
r Support for Learners e n Inclusion and Equal Opportunities r a Education, Culture and Sport services have a policy of inclusion. The purpose of the e policy is to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs L
r receive adequate and efficient provision as stated in the Education (Additional Support
o for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. In June 2009, the Act was amended. These f amendments form the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 t r came into force on 14 November 2010. Our policy is to ensure that children and young o people have access to the services and facilities they need to develop, learn, achieve, p and participate in the life of their school and broader community in order to achieve p
u their full potential. S The authority aims to have a continuum of provision to provide the most appropriate support to the individual child or young person. Wherever possible, children and young people should have the opportunity to be educated in their local community. The authority believes that an educationally inclusive school is one in which the teaching and learning, achievements, attitudes, and well-being of every young person matters.
Schools show this commitment to inclusion not only in their performance, but also in their ethos and their willingness to offer new opportunities to pupils who may have experienced difficulties.
Schools have a duty to meet the learning needs of all children regardless of ability. Some pupils’ needs will be met in a mainstream school with additional staff resource being deployed to provide additional support. However, some pupils will require a place in either an additional support needs base within the mainstream school or a place in a free-standing additional support needs school.
The Education, Culture and Sport Service is also committed to promoting equality of opportunity in relation to race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, as an employer, as a service provider, and in the services we commission.
We have a single equality scheme and it applies to all schools. The scheme addresses all forms of discrimination. It also seeks to improve the experiences of students and staff and sets out steps to promote wider choices in education and employment opportunities. Equality is promoted across the school curriculum and especially through citizenship and global awareness, one of the core components of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).
Schools are responsible for implementing the inclusion policy and the single equality scheme and set out actions in the school’s annual improvement plan. This is shared with parents, pupils and the wider community.
15 The council uses the standard procedure for recording and reporting racist incidents agreed by the Aberdeen Prejudice Incident Partnership (APIP). A racist incident is any alleged crime, offence or incident where the victim or any other person believes the events to be racially motivated. Such incidents will be investigated by the head teacher with a full report going to the parent/guardian (if the child is under 16 years of age) and a copy of the report going to the Education, Culture and Sport Service, the Team Against Racist Crime (TARC) and Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC) - the monitoring authority for racist incidents. Statistical reports on racist incidents are made on a regular basis to ARIP and on an annual basis to the Policy and Performance Committee.
For further information on equality of opportunities issues please contact the Equalities Team, Customer Service and Performance, Corporate Governance, Aberdeen City Council, Business Hub 13, Second Floor North, Marischal College, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB.
Support for Learners with Additional Support Needs As part of our “Strategy for Learning”, we are in the process of moving towards 3 tiers or levels of provision for 5-18 year olds: Tier 1 Mainstream primary and secondary schools with on-site support/provision; Tier 2 Mainstream primary and secondary schools with extended facilities/resources; and Tier 3 Free-standing specialist schools
The school booklet/prospectus for each individual school contains the details of the range of provision available across Tiers 1, 2 and 3.
For pre-school aged children there is a 4 tier range of provision: Tier 1 Mainstream nursery provision in a local authority, private provide or voluntary sector setting; Tier 2 Developmental nursery provision at Kaimhill Primary School where the children will spend time working alongside children in the mainstream nursery but will also have specialist support available for all of the time; Tier 3 Developmental nursery provision at Seaton Primary and Ashgrove Children’s Centre. Here children will benefit from a quieter playroom for most of the time but would also have opportunities to join in activities with mainstream children for some of the time. Specialist staff support children at all times; Tier 4 Developmental nursery provision at Seaton Primary for children who require, highly specialised provision and require a high level of support to meet their needs at all times. Specialist staff support children at all times.
A leaflet about the Pre-school ASN service can be obtained from the Family Information Service (FIS) (See useful contacts page 58).
16 s The council also commissions pre-school education from private, independent and r voluntary sector pre-school education providers. If you wish to access a place at one e of these pre-school centres, you should contact the provider of your choice to n r negotiate a place. a e A list of registered pre-school education centres in your area can be obtained from the L Family Information Service (FIS) (See useful contacts page 58). r o f t Educational Psychology Service r o The Educational Psychology Service provides help to all children and young people to p reach their full potential. We work in consultation with teachers, parents & carers, p young people and other agencies. u
S Educational psychologists (EPs) work at three levels: the child and family level; the educational establishment level; and the local authority level.
An educational psychologist may become involved if the school has concerns about a particular issue. An initial consultation meeting is called with relevant school staff to discuss the concerns about the child. If it is agreed that a particular problem needs to be looked at in greater detail, the school will discuss this with parents or carers and obtain their consent for the EP to become involved.
Parents will be invited to a full consultation meeting which will usually last about 45 minutes. The meeting includes the school staff, the EP, other interested parties and where appropriate, the child or young person. The purpose of this meeting is to gather all the relevant information, find solutions and plan any further action to support the child. Some children or young people may require support to attend the meeting. A copy of the agreed action plan will be sent to parents and the other participants.
A follow-up consultation meeting may be arranged six weeks to six months later, the time frame dependent on the particular circumstances, to review the agreed action plan and decide if any further action is required. For further information and contact details see page 47.
Hospital and Home Tuition Service The service is for children and young people experiencing difficulties because they have a temporary or long-term illness. Tuition is provided in the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) wards in liaison with the child’s school. Medical staff advise teaching staff of the child’s ability to engage in schoolwork. Other children who have long term illness which prevents regular attendance at school may be supported by a regular tuition session in their own homes until they are able to return to full-time education. Children at home are referred to the Hospital and Home Tuition Service by a variety of routes involving multidisciplinary advice. For further information and contact details see page 47.
17 Language Units There are three Language Units in the city, at Sunnybank, Dyce and Kaimhill Primary Schools.
These serve the needs of young children from across the city who have a specific language impairment.
The Language Units offer: • intensive speech and language therapy; • carefully designed individualised curriculum; • enriched language environment; • specialised teaching methods.
In response to these features, it is expected that appropriate children will be able to make accelerated progress and return to mainstream education better able to realise their potential. Most children will return to their zoned school within two years. For further information and contact details see page 48.
Sensory Support Services The Sensory Support Services provide specialist support for children and young people (0-18) with varying degrees of sight and hearing problems. The aim is to provide educational support which sets the highest level of expectation, allowing these children and young people to reach their full potential. These services offer support to families by providing information, practical help, advice and resources.
Schools, medical specialist, social worker or other professional may make a referral provided they have the consent of the parent or carer. Parents or carers may also make a referral directly to the service. This services works in partnership with parents and carers and other professionals to ensure that the child’s vision/hearing support needs are identified early and met with ongoing appropriate support.
The level of support offered is set out in the criteria for service intervention. The criteria outlines the factors that should be considered when allocating support. It must be emphasised that each child’s potential support needs are assessed in the context of her/his personal circumstances and are likely to change over time. The professional judgement and experience of the vision support teacher (VST)/hearing support teacher (HST) is therefore extremely important in determining the nature of support necessary.
Staff from the Sensory Support Services support pupils either at home, in nursery, in their own local mainstream school, at Aberdeen School for the Deaf or Newhills Vision Support Base. For further information and contact details see page 49.
18 s English as an Additional Language (EAL) r e The EAL Service supports learning and teaching of pupils with a home language other n than English (bilingual pupils) so that they reach their full potential across the nursery, r
a primary and secondary curriculum. e L
The service works within an intercultural and inclusive framework in partnership and on r the basis of shared responsibility with the bilingual pupil’s own school and teachers. It o f improves access to the curriculum, ensures integration and raises achievement within t the mainstream classroom, aids the process of assessment and certification and helps r
o each and every pupil reach the highest level of attainment that they can. p
p The EAL service responds to referrals from schools in a flexible way through: u • consultation, initial assessment, advice on materials, staff support; S • teaching beginners groups (Stage 1) at the EAL service premises twice a week; • teaching pupils who have basic competence in English (Stage 2) and improved competence in English (Stage 3) in the mainstream classroom from P1 to S6; and • a watching brief (no direct teaching).
The head teacher of the school which your child attends must contact the EAL service for an initial assessment visit to decide on the level of support which your child or children need. Please do not hesitate to draw the head teacher’s attention to the fact that your child is a learner of English. Your child is entitled to have his/her English learning needs assessed. For further information and contact details see page 47.
Pupil Support Services (3-18) The service supports children who have social, emotional and behaviour needs in primary, secondary and in additional support needs schools. This support can be given in the child’s school or in a special needs base. The service aims to help children and young people to manage school life. It provides a range of supports which are flexible, creative and relevant to each individual young person. Support may take the form of one or more of the following depending on need.
One to One Sessions: Getting to know each other, building positive relationships with staff and pupils and individual tutoring/folio work. In Class Support: Developing strategies to make learning accessible and achievable for each individual. Group Work: Promoting a range of social skills. This may include positive communication, tolerance, patience, understanding of themselves and their abilities. Alternative Education: Giving opportunities to enhance learning and skills in different and often challenging environments.
Applications for support are submitted by schools for consideration at the SEBN (Social, Emotional, and Behavioural Needs) admissions panel which meets regularly each term. For further information and contact details see page 48.
19 Technological Assessment and Support Service for Children and the Curriculum (TASSCC) TASSCC provides a service for children whose learning or communication difficulties can be helped by computer technology. Pupils aged 3-18 whose education is provided by Aberdeen City Council may benefit from additional technology to assist with reading, writing/recording or accessing the curriculum. Also pupils aged 0-19 with little or no speech may benefit from technology to assist communication.
A TASSCC referral is usually done through the school. Parents must be informed and agree that a referral can be made. Pupils can be referred to the service either by phone or online. TASSCC must obtain parental permission to access information from any other professionals working with the child. Once parental permission is given, the TASSCC team will visit to assess whether or not technology may be helpful. Loans are made on a short or long term basis depending on individual needs and any pupil who needs technology to write will be allowed to use it in assessments and examinations. For further information and contact details see page 49.
20 s
r Complementary Education Services e n Active Schools r a The Active Schools Team provides a range of opportunities for school pupils to e participate in sport and physical activity. Sessions take place at lunchtimes, after L
r school and during the school holidays. To join our mailing list please email us at
o [email protected] . f t r For further information and contact details see page 46. o p p Adventure Aberdeen u Adventure Aberdeen provides outdoor education, corporate and adventure activities S and training. Adventure Aberdeen’s key aim is to "inspire learning through adventure".
Outdoor education is a well established learning approach that uses adventurous activities to engage, inspire and develop individuals and groups in an educational setting.
The Curriculum for Excellence has many experiences and outcomes that can be successfully approached and achieved through active learning out of doors. Outdoor learning and using outdoor classrooms is a significant part of Adventure Aberdeen’s work and ethos.
Activities are structured, evaluated and reviewed so targets can be set for individuals and groups back in the classroom, community or home. For further information and contact details see page 46.
Arts Development Arts Development works in partnership to create sustainable and inclusive learning opportunities, encouraging citizens including children and young people to realise their potential and involvement in the arts through projects, workshops, volunteering, training and exhibitions.
Our aims are to: • break down barriers to participation in cultural activity; • promote community engagement in culture and arts; • create projects recognised locally, nationally and in Europe; • offer employment opportunities for local, national and international artists; • develop inclusive projects that link with heritage, public arts, artists, international, new media and volunteering.
For further information and contact details see page 46.
21 Arts Education The arts education team works directly with schools to: • improve learning, develop creativity and recognise achievement through access to high quality experiences and expertise in the arts, culture and heritage; • measure and demonstrate the impact of arts education in robust and creative ways.
Projects and activities are directly related to Curriculum for Excellence and provide opportunities for teachers and pupils to develop creative approaches across all areas of the curriculum.
The team seeks external funding for projects with schools that involve any and all art forms delivered in partnership with artists, companies and organisations. Opportunities for involvement are always offered through school and activities take place within the school day. For further information and contact details see page 46.
16+ Learning Choices 16+ Learning Choices is a universal entitlement for all young people and is the model for ensuring all young people completing compulsory education have an offer of a suitable place in post-16 learning. The offer that will be made before a young person leaving school may be one of the following: • full or part time education in a school, FE college or university; • a place on a national training programme such as ‘Get ready for Work’ or a Modern Apprenticeship’; • access to training through a local provider; • full or part time employment (over 16 hours a week); • a volunteering placement; or • an informal learning placement, including personal and social development opportunities.
Young people who require more individual support after leaving formal education may be considered for an Activity Agreement which aims to assist young people into more formal learning opportunities. For further information and contact details see page 49.
The Communities Service The Communities Service focuses on learning and social development work with individuals and groups using a range of formal and non formal methods. It supports and enables people of all ages, through partnership working, to tackle issues of importance to them and to influence the factors that affect their lives. It helps to provide people with the skills and information they need to participate in community life and to further their own personal development through learning. This improves people’s confidence and skills and contributes to better health and wellbeing for both individuals and communities.
22 s The service has a particularly important role in supporting individuals and communities r through key transitions: e n • in the early years, through working with families; r
a • for young people moving into the adult community and the world of work;
e • for all who through lack of skills, ill health or other negative experiences need the L
chance to change and make progress; r • for older people, keeping them active and in the community for longer; o f • for communities experiencing significant changes such as regeneration or t
r environmental challenges;
o • for migrants and refugees, and their host communities; p • to help communities to keep and build engagement with public services at a time p of pressure and reorganisation. u
S The service is guided by the three national community learning and development achievement priorities:
Learning for Adults We work with adults through community based lifelong learning opportunities to improve their; literacy, numeracy and communications skills; and support them to work with others; and improve their problem solving; and information communications technology (ICT) to support them to improve all aspects of their lives.
We provide: • opportunities for parents/carers to become more involved in their children’s learning and to encourage them to value the support they give their children on a day-to-day basis in their homes and communities; • dedicated literacy programmes for adults who struggle to read, write and use numbers effectively; • english language classes for speakers of other languages (ESOL); • employability support including work skills training, work experience opportunities and advice on personal career development and recruitment.
Learning for Young People We work with young people to support their personal, social and educational development and enable them to gain a voice, influence and place in society. We work in many settings including youth clubs, activity groups, in schools, on the street and other outdoor spaces. We use arts, media, sport and many other activities that encourage young people to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
Building Community Capacity We work in communities to build community capacity and influence by enabling individuals and communities to develop the confidence, understanding and skills required to influence wider decision making and service delivery. This encourages communities to tackle real issues in their lives through community action and community based learning.
For further information and contact details see page 46-47. 23 Family Learning The Family Learning Project is a focussed early years early intervention project which works to improve the attainment of children aged 3 to 6 years by working directly with their parents/carers to support their children’s learning. We work in the 11 primary schools - Kittybrewster, Sunnybank, Riverbank, Quarryhill, Tullos, Walker Road, Manor Park, Bramble Brae, Heathryburn, Seaton and St Peter’s.
In partnership with schools and other agencies we provide various courses and events to support parents/carers with behaviour management, confidence and assertiveness, curriculum homework support and Family English classes. We also provide mums, dads and grandparents with experiential learning opportunities to build confidence and have fun with their children.
In addition we also offer parents/carers the opportunity to volunteer for the project by providing relevant training and work experience to build their confidence to take up further learning or employment opportunities.
Guidance and support is also provided to all parents on meeting their own learning needs. For further information and contact details see page 47.
Gaelic Education Gaelic medium education is available to all children and no knowledge of Gaelic is required.
A Gaelic parent and child group (0-3) meets at Gilcomstoun Primary School on a Friday morning, and the group is run by the Gaelic Pre-School Council and a parents’ management committee. Gaelic medium education at nursery and primary level is offered at Gilcomstoun Primary School. Children are initially taught the nursery and primary curriculum in Gaelic followed by gradual use of English, with the aim of equal competency in both languages by the end of primary school.
Pupils then continue Gaelic language education at Hazlehead Academy. Children are offered Gaelic as a subject at all stages S1/S2, Standard Grade, Higher and Advanced Higher.
To apply for a place at nursery, contact the Gaelic Development Officer. For contact details, see page 47. To apply for a primary place, contact the head teacher of Gilcomstoun Primary School. For contacts details, see page 36. To apply for a secondary place, contact the head teacher of Hazlehead Academy. For contact details see page 39.
24 s Music School r e Aberdeen City Music School is a national music school for young musicians from all n over Scotland with well above average ability in music. It is staffed by well known r
a professional musicians who have a track record both as performers and teachers. The e school has a hall of residence for children who do not live in the city. L r The school provides a specialist curriculum within a comprehensive secondary o f education setting at Dyce Academy. The director is pleased to meet prospective t students with their parents for an informal chat. There are bursaries available for r
o up-and-coming young musicians who are still in primary school. p
p For further information and contact details see page 46. u S Music/Vocal Instruction Instrumental/vocal tuition is given by experienced specialist teachers. Lessons last for 30 minutes depending on the school timetable. In the early stages, there are usually three or four pupils in a group. Individual lessons are available subject to the agreement of the teacher, but are usually offered to intermediate and advanced pupils. All pupils up to and including P6 are entitled to one year’s free instrumental tuition if they have not received any previous lessons. This is financed by the Government’s Youth Music Initiative.
Lessons are given within the child’s school, during the school day. Every effort is made to rotate the time of lessons within Secondary Schools in order to avoid the pupil missing the same class lesson each week.
Information about fees is available from Music Service, Northfield Academy, Granitehill Place, Aberdeen AB16 7AU. Telephone is 01224 717528 or 717526. Parents in receipt of certain benefits may be entitled to a reduction of fees.
Library and Information Services This service provides support to children and families in the city, delivered through the network of community libraries and the Central Library.
The library service focuses on encouraging and developing the joy of reading, providing access to learning and information and supporting literacy and family learning initiatives locally and nationally. This includes the co-ordination across the city of Aberdeen’s Early Years Gifting Programme initiative, Bookbug (previously known as Bookstart).
The library and information services provide: • a large selection of books, talking books, DVDs for children, young adults and parents which include dual language books and parent collections with books and information on childcare;
25 • a Toy Lending Service in Kincorth, Mastrick and Tillydrone Libraries; • books and information, including a range of databases, to help with homework, general interest and hobbies; • advice and guidance on choosing and sharing books for families with children of different ages and abilities; • events and activities throughout the year such as author visits, Bookbug sessions and storytimes; • active support for national events and initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge; • information on careers and employment for young people; • Europe Direct Centre in Central Library offering information on education, travel and employment opportunities for young people in the European Union; • computer taster sessions for adults; • adult learning resources; • Migrant Communities Information Point in select library and information services offering essential information in a variety of languages.
For further information and contact details see page 54.
For details of the central and community libraries and information services please see the listing at the end of this booklet or the library and information services web pages atwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/libraries.
Partner Organisations Aberdeen Performing Arts Aberdeen Performing Arts is a local authority partner which as well as delivering creative performances in its three venue's delivers creative learning opportunities to young people in the city. There learning offers are linked to the curriculum for excellence and allow young people to develop new creative skills. The APA creative learning offer includes schools programmes, theatre visits, youth theatre and the young person's company. For further information and contact details see page 56.
Sport Aberdeen Sport Aberdeen is a local authority partner. Sport Aberdeen is a charitable trust that manages an extensive range of high quality sporting facilities, services and events in the city. It is a new vibrant organisation, committed to providing a rewarding sporting experience for residents and visitors of every age and ability.
For further information and contact details see page 57.
26 s
r Financial Support e n School Meals r a All schools offer well-balanced, nutritional meals. Secondary schools offer cafeteria e services, where a wide range of meals and snacks are provided at varying prices. L r A meal costs £1.95 in primary schools and £2.20 in secondary schools for a two- o f
course meal, however, these prices may increase during the school year. Secondary t r pupils use the Accord Card; therefore the money must be loaded onto the card in the o school prior to use. Payment can be made in cash or by cheque for meals within both p primary and secondary schools. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Aberdeen City p Council’. For primary schools, books of meal tickets can be purchased either singly or u in books of ten from the school, at The Customer Service Centre at Marischal College S and Kincorth, Mastrick and Woodside Customer Access Points. Payment for books of tickets at these offices can be by cash, cheque, debit or credit card.
Free school meals are available to children whose parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance/Incapacity Benefit, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Child Tax Credit where no award of Working Tax Credit has been made and income is less than £15,860; and both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income below the threshold for receipt of Working Tax Credit set by the UK Government, currently £6420.
If a child aged between 16 and 18 is still at school and receives these benefits in their own right, they can claim free school meals. Asylum Seekers that receive support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are also eligible to apply for free school meals. Applications for free school meals are made at your child’s school. Proof of family eligibility is required in February and September each year.
Free school breakfasts are available at some schools and out of school clubs; please contact the school for details.
For further information on school meals contact 01224 523237.
Clothing The authority can, in some circumstances, make a grant towards the costs of school clothing and footwear to those in receipt of certain benefits. The current grant is £55 for primary school pupils and £60 for secondary school pupils. For pupils of statutory school age the award is paid directly to parents. For pupils over statutory school age the grant is paid direct to the student.
Application forms are available from schools, library and information services, community centres and Customer Access Points and online at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk. For further information contact 01224 523383.
27 Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) EMAs aim to encourage young people from low income families to take part in further and higher education. EMAs provide financial support for 16-19 year olds who stay on in full time non advanced education after their statutory school leaving date.
To be eligible for an EMA in 2011-2012 the student must: • have been born between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1996; • have a household income of £22,404 or below (for families with more than one dependent child* in the household); or • have a household income of £20,351 or below (for families with a single dependent child in the household); • be in full-time non-advanced education (up to SVQ level 3) or be taking parting; • be taking part in 16+ learning choices and activity agreement projects.
*Dependent children are all those up to the age of 16 and those over the age of 16and up to the age of 25 if they are still in full-time education.
Young people receiving education who are looked after by the local authority or who are classed as “care leavers” by the local authority, are eligible for the full EMA without having to provide evidence of parental household income; this also includes students who are in receipt of Income Support or income related Employment and Support Allowance in their own name and students receiving a Pathways allowance from the local authority.
Following assessment of the application, weekly payments will be paid at £30.
The household income of the young person will determine their eligibility for an EMA. Where the household income is £20,351 or less the young person will be eligible, and will be awarded a weekly allowance of £30. Young people from households with more than one dependent child and where the household income in £22, 403 or less will also be eligible of a weekly payment of £30 per week.
• To be eligible for weekly payments the student must complete a learning agreement with the school/project. • Payments are made fortnightly in arrears to the student’s own bank account depending on attendance and compliance with the requirements of their learning agreement.
Application forms are available from schools, Customer Access Points or can be downloaded from our website www.aberdeencity.gov.uk . For further information contact 01224 523898.
28 s Transport r e The authority provides free school transport in the following situations: n r • where a child is enrolled in his/her zoned primary school, and lives two miles or a more from that school; or e
L • where a child is enrolled at his/her zoned secondary school, and lives three or
r more miles from that school. o f
The only exceptions to this policy are: t r • where a child lives less than the prescribed distance from his/her zoned school o
p (that is, less than the two or three miles indicated above) but cannot reach that
p school either by an available transport service or by an available safe walking u route accompanied if necessary by an adult; or
S • where a child lives less than the prescribed distance from his/her zoned primary or secondary school (that is, less than the two or three miles indicated above), does not have access to a transport service, and is unable to walk the prescribed safe route due to his/her own medical condition or to the medical condition of the adult who would normally accompany him/her on the walking route to school.
The authority will take expert advice from qualified road safety practitioners and family doctor or school medical staff as appropriate before any final decision to support a request is made.
• where a child lives less than the prescribed (two or three miles) from his/her zoned school on the contract (i.e. school) bus route to that school, and there exist(s) space(s) on the existing contract (i.e. school) bus service. In such cases, a child may be granted free transport on a privilege basis, only for as long as there is a space and it is not required by an entitled child.
It is at the discretion of the authority whether or not to grant free transport for children who are accepted for an out of zone school. Only in exceptional circumstances (such as medical reasons) will the authority exercise this discretion.
Where the local authority has placed a child in a school which is not his/her zoned school, transport will be provided to the school if it is more than two miles from the address at which the child is ordinarily resident (primary) or more than three miles (secondary) for a maximum six weeks then reverts to Social Care and Wellbeing.
Free transport may be provided in various ways, either by the provision of season tickets on buses or by direct provision of contract transport from the permanent home address to the school. The authority does not guarantee to provide door to door transport.
Requests for transport where children have medical problems or where problems of safety arise, parents should approach the school to complete an exceptional circumstances transport application. It is the discretion of the service manager whether or not to grant free transport.
29 If free transport is approved, a copy of the Transport Handbook for Parents, Guardians and Children will be sent to the address stated on the transport application. Where season tickets are lost there is a £10 administrative charge for replacement.
For further information and contact details see page 48.
30 y t Health and Safety e f
a Security
S All schools across Aberdeen City are fitted with security systems. All primary and
d special schools have electronic access control systems, with some also being
n monitored by CCTV surveillance. All secondary schools have electronic access control a
systems and CCTV surveillance with some also having controlled external gates.
h Parents are asked to co-operate fully with security arrangements at each school. t l Parents are also asked to be vigilant and to warn their children about “stranger a danger”. Any worries about unknown or suspect strangers on or near a school site e should always be reported to the head teacher. H
Emergency Situation Procedures The authority has clearly prepared emergency procedures. The authority has a duty of care in respect of pupils in its charge during school hours, and as such has to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all primary and secondary pupils. As secondary pupils are more mature a lesser degree of supervision is considered appropriate.
It may be necessary to provide supervision for primary children on school premises before or after normal school hours if their early arrival or late departure is due to the timing of official school transport. This general duty of care continues if children go home by school transport and ends when the child gets off the bus, at which point the parents then become responsible.
Head teachers have discretion to close their school in emergency situations which would put pupils at risk. Where possible, they will try to contact parents to let them know of such a decision but this cannot always be guaranteed. It is of vital importance that you ensure the head teacher has up to date contact details and telephone numbers in order to cover all emergencies.
Every care is taken to try to ensure that pupils are not sent home in dangerous conditions. Adverse weather conditions could result in children having to stay in schools, or at agreed nearby addresses. As a matter of course, all head teachers request that parents nominate relatives or friends as a contact who can look after their children in an emergency.
Each school has a safety procedure and full details are available from the head teacher. This information will include the availability of the school’s information line.
31 Attendance and Absence The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 requires parents to ensure that their children receive a suitable education from the time they are five. This is normally provided through attendance at school and parents have a duty to ensure regular attendance.
If a child has to be absent from school for any reason, parents should contact the school immediately to explain the absence. A note should then be sent to school as soon as possible. If an explanation of the absence is not provided, the period will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
Except in very exceptional circumstances family holidays taken out with the normal school holiday period will be classified as unauthorised absence. Exceptional circumstances include family bereavement or written confirmation from the employer that holidays must be taken during term time. Parents should still notify the school of the intention to take children out for family holidays.
Parents who are having general problems with their child’s attendance at school should contact the school as soon as a problem arises. Each school has an assigned Home-School Liaison Officer who will work with families and schools in order to identify the reasons for non-attendance and agree a plan for improving attendance.
Health and Insurance Aberdeen City Council does not hold insurance which would automatically compensate school pupils for personal accident, whether an accident occurs within or out with the boundary of the school. Insurance of this nature, e.g. personal accident, life, private medical, is seen as a parental responsibility. It is the parents’ responsibility to insure their child for personal accident or death if they feel this is appropriate. Parents should also consider insurance cover for pupils engaged in sports activities and participating in school trips.
Aberdeen City Council does hold Public Liability Insurance, which covers the council for any legal liability in respect of claims from third parties, e.g. parents on behalf of pupils who have suffered injury, illness, loss or damage arising from the negligence of the council or its employees. However, if there is no negligence, a claim would not be accepted by the council or its insurers.
Procedures for Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs Requiring Medication During School Hours
Parents or guardians have prime responsibility for their child’s health and should provide schools with information about a child’s medical condition.
Children with a short term illness who are well enough to attend school.
If it is at all possible parents should arrange the timing of treatment, so it is that it is only taken at home, i.e. before and after school and possibly at lunchtime if the child goes home for lunch. Parents should be encouraged to ask the prescribing doctor or dentist about this.
32 y Children with long term medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, t who require either regular medication to control their condition and/or occasional e f treatment during attacks or relapses). a S
In all cases where a child requires medication to be given in school, parents should
d provide precise written instructions on the amount and frequency of dosage, and n signed authorisation to administer such medication. a
h There is no legal duty that requires education school staff to administer medication; t l this is an entirely voluntary role. Every effort will be made to help children to have a access to all aspects of school life. In certain cases specific training may need to be e given to school staff about a child’s treatment. This should be discussed with parents H and the school health team (school nurse and doctor). If appropriate it is helpful for a school to draw up a written health care plan involving parents and relevant health care professionals.
Depending on their maturity, it will usually be appropriate for older children to carry their own medication and be responsible for its use. Parents are asked to ensure the school is informed of this. In many conditions, and in particular when a child requires inhaled treatment for asthma, pupils are requested to provide a reserve inhaler/supply of medication to be kept in a secure place in school. This means children will not suffer unnecessarily should they forget or run out of their medication. Such reserve medications should be renewed as appropriate.
If a child complains of headaches or other pains and requests painkillers, these will only be given on the receipt of a written request from parents/carers and this request must be supported by medical advice with an appropriate health care plan for reasons of safety. Aspirin and aspirin-based products are specifically excluded from school first-aid boxes. The Scottish Government has produced guidelines on the administration of medicines in schools, available online at www.scotland.gov.uk.
The authority is empowered to encourage the medical examination of pupils attending one or all of their schools through the school health team employed by NHS Grampian. The school health team includes the school nurse and doctor, working in close liaison with teachers and other health professionals. The core programme for health is as follows and parents are encouraged to take this up by giving their consent to each of the procedures listed: • selective health care review with the parent and the child (not all children receive this as they are screened for need and seen on that basis); • vision screening by the school nurse in primary 1 if no pre-school orthoptic screen has occurred; • growth screening by the school nurse in primary 1; • introduction to the school nurse in secondary 1; • health care review pupil questionnaire and review by the school nurse in secondary 2;
33 • vision screening including colour vision will be offered by the school nurse in secondary 2; • tetanus, diphtheria and polio boosters in secondary 3/4 (if not given by the GP) by the school health team; • human papilloma virus (HPV) – girls aged 12-13yrs; • medical consultation with the school doctor as required; • other reviews, examination and appointments as necessary and as arranged with parents.
Employment of Children The authority has adopted by-laws which regulate the part-time employment of school age children (children who have not yet reached their statutory school leaving date) during term-time and holiday periods. Employment includes assistance in any trade or occupation which is carried out for profit, whether or not payment is received for that assistance. This includes times where the child is employed by a parent.
Before a child can take up employment they require an employment permit. The permit details the employment to be undertaken and the hours and days to be worked. Before a permit can be issued parents and the child’s head teacher must give their permission for a child of school age to be employed. Employers must carry out a written risk assessment.
Detailed information about the employment of school age children and an application for an employment permit is available from secondary schools or from Education, Culture and Sport, Business Hub 13, 2nd Floor North, Marischal College, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB. Telephone 01224 522253. Parents should obtain a copy of this information before their child starts work.
Wellbeing Anti-bullying Policy Bullying is not acceptable in any council school. The council will treat all reports of bullying seriously and will investigate these appropriately. Schools aim to foster a positive climate to prevent bullying and the issues surrounding this are often discussed with the children through Personal and Social Education (PSE).
Schools have written statements about their policy and practice on dealing with bullying and behaviour generally. These will state the school’s approach to positive behaviour management and the support of individual children; the school’s specific response to incidents of bullying with an emphasis on the need for children to “tell”. If a young person in your family is being bullied at school it is vital that you work with the school to try to find a solution. Schools also provide guidance to parents about how to raise any concerns they have with the school and a description of the arrangements that have been set up to monitor incidents of bullying.
The school also has to take into account the best interests of all the other young people in that school. Please discuss things with your son/daughter before you take action. This is of importance in maintaining your positive relationship with him/her.
34 y If you wish further help or information you might wish to consult the Anti-bullying t Network website at www.antibullying.net , and you may find the following telephone e f numbers of use: the Childline telephone line (0800 1111) is a communication link for a young people who have any issues of concern, and is open24 hours 7 days a week; S
ParentLine Scotland (0800 028 2233, www.parentlinescotland.org.uk ) aims to help d parents with any kind of worry or problem. n a
Sex Education h
t Sex education is carried out as part of a programme of Personal and Social Education l (PSE). All school students take part in this programme from the start of primary school a
e until they leave at the end of secondary school. PSE is concerned with helping them to
H develop concern, consideration, respect for themselves and others, personal responsibility and positive relationships.
Through sex education we hope to work together with parents and carers in helping our young people to develop caring, respectful and loving relationships, and to appreciate the need for stability in bringing up children. We focus on giving young people factually accurate information at appropriate times, and on helping them to think about and discuss the issues and possible consequences of courses of action.
Sex education in our schools is carried out in accordance with the national advice contained in the Scottish Executive publication “Sex Education in Scottish Schools”. “A Guide for Parents and Carers” is also available, and can be obtained through your child’s school or from www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/education/a5parents.pdf.
Alcohol and Drugs Misuse The topics of alcohol, drug and substance misuse are covered in a way that is relevant to the age and maturity of pupils as part of the schools’ Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme. The council also has clear guidelines for dealing with drug-related incidents. Our policy encourages schools to inform and involve parents on drug issues.
35 SCHOOLS s g n i
Schools are listed alphabetically in Associated School Groups. t s i
SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS L
ROLL TEACHER l
2011 o o
1094 Aberdeen Graham Legge Tel: 01224 642299 Fax: 01224 627413 h
Grammar School [email protected] c
Skene Street S
www.grammar.org.uk
Aberdeen AB10 1HT /
y 375 Ashley Road School Jennifer Ralph Tel: 01224 588732 Fax: 01224 586228 r 45 Ashley Road e [email protected] s Aberdeen AB10 6RU www.ashleyroad.aberdeen.sch.uk r u N
239 Gilcomstoun School Stewart Duncan Tel: 01224 642722 Fax: 01224 620784 Skene Street [email protected] Aberdeen AB10 1PG www.gilcomstoun.aberdeen.sch.uk
429 Mile End School Eleanor Tel: 01224 498140 Fax: 01224 208758 Midstocket Road Sheppard [email protected] Aberdeen AB15 5PD www.mileend.aberdeen.sch.uk
316 Skene Square School Margaret Rattray Tel: 01224 630493 Fax: 01224 620788 61 Skene Square (Acting) [email protected] Aberdeen AB25 2UN www.skenesquare.aberdeen.sch.uk
288 St Joseph’s RC Catherine Tel: 01224 322730 Fax: 01224 325463 School Tominey [email protected] 5 Queens Road www.stjosephsprimary.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB15 4YL
654 Bridge of Don Jack Harland Tel: 01224 707583 Fax: 01224 706910 Academy [email protected] Braehead Way www.bridgeofdon.aberdeen.sch.uk Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB22 8RR
167 Braehead School Laura Walker Tel: 01224 702330 Fax: 01224 707659 Braehead Way [email protected] Bridge of Don www.braehead.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB22 8RR
36 s SCHOOLS g n i t SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS s ROLL TEACHER i 2011 L l 201 Scotstown School Caroline Bain Tel: 01224 703331 Fax: 01224 820289 o Scotstown Road o [email protected] Bridge of Don h www.scotstown.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB22 8HH c S
/ Balmedie School Ken McGowan Tel: 01358 742474 Fax: 01358 742319
y Forsyth Road [email protected] r Balmedie www.balmedie.aberdeenshire.sch.uk e Aberdeenshire s AB23 8YW r u 561 Bucksburn Academy Kas Mohamed Tel: 01224 710700 Fax: 01224 715175
N Keppleshills Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB21 9DG www.bucksburnacademy.org.uk
121 Bucksburn School Margaret Clark Tel: 01224 712862 Fax: 01224 716522 Inverurie Road [email protected] Bucksburn www.bucksburn.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB21 9LL
410 Kingswells School Jayne Glover Tel: 01224 740262 Fax: 01224 742425 Kingswells Avenue [email protected] Kingswells www.kingswells.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB15 8TG
160 Newhills School Margaret Clark Tel: 01224 713170 Fax: 01224 716860 Wagley Parade [email protected] Bucksburn www.newhills.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB21 9UB
129 Stoneywood School Margaret Tel: 01224 712720 Fax: 01224 710137 Stoneywood Road Ferguson [email protected] Stoneywood www.stoneywood.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB21 9HY
37 SCHOOLS
SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS ROLL TEACHER 2011
1060 Cults Academy Anna Muirhead Tel: 01224 868801 Fax: 01224 865250 Quarry Road [email protected] Cults www.cults-academy.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB15 9TP
307 Culter School Susan Crossan Tel: 01224 733197 Fax: 01224 735045 22 School Road [email protected] Peterculter www.culter.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB14 0RX
456 Cults School Iain Smithers Tel: 01224 869221 Fax: 01224 869372 Earlswells Road [email protected] Cults www.cultsprimary.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB15 9RG
226 Milltimber School Ruth Mathers Tel: 01224 732517 Fax: 01224 735276 Monearn Gardens [email protected] Milltimber www.milltimber.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB13 0DX
Lairhillock School Marian Tel: 01569 732520 Fax: 01569 739473 Netherley Youngson [email protected] Aberdeenshire www.lairhillock.aberdenshire.gov.uk AB39 3QS
563 Dyce Academy Lesley Adam Tel: 01224 725118 Fax: 01224 772571 Riverview Drive [email protected] Dyce www.dyceacademy.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB21 7NF
350 Dyce School Wendy Wallace Tel: 01224 772220 Fax: 01224 772033 Gordon Terrace [email protected] Dyce www.dyce.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB21 7BD
Newmachar School Beryl Tobin Tel: 01651 862245 Fax: 01651 863424 7 School Road [email protected] Newmachar www.newmachar.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Aberdeenshire AB21 0WB
38 s SCHOOLS g n i t SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS s ROLL TEACHER i 2011 L l 903 Harlaw Academy John Murray Tel: 01224 589251 Fax: 01224 212794 o 18-20 Albyn Place o [email protected] Aberdeen AB10 1RG h www.harlawacademy.aberdeen.sch.uk c S
/ 336 Broomhill School Kathryn Rohan Tel: 01224 315487 Fax: 01224 312225
y Gray Street [email protected] r Aberdeen AB10 6JF e s r u 305 Ferryhill School Lynn Scanlon Tel: 01224 586755 Fax: 01224 585244
N Caledonian Place [email protected] Aberdeen AB11 6TT www.ferryhill.aberdeen.sch.uk
200 Kaimhill School Nancy Davidson Tel: 01224 498150 Fax: 01224 311938 Pitmedden Terrace [email protected] Aberdeen AB10 7HR www.kaimhill.aberdeen.sch.uk
896 Hazlehead Academy Alison Murison Tel: 01224 310184 Fax: 01224 208434 Groats Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB15 8BE www.hazleheadacy.aberdeen.sch.uk
307 Airyhall School Alison Thomson Tel: 01224 498050 Fax: 01224 312628 Countesswells Road [email protected] Aberdeen www.airyhall.aberdeen.sch.uk AB15 8AD
223 Fernielea School Sarah Webb Tel: 01224 318533 Fax: 01224 326952 Stronsay Place [email protected] Aberdeen AB15 6HD www.fernielea.aberdeen.sch.uk
251 Hazlehead School Barbara Jones Tel: 01224 498120 Fax: 01224 209885 Provost Graham [email protected] Avenue www.hazlehead-ps.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB15 8HB
317 Kingsford School Audrey Walker Tel: 01224 693554 Fax: 01224 694993 Kingsford Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 6PQ www.kingsford.ik.org
39 SCHOOLS
SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS ROLL TEACHER 2011
648 Kincorth Academy Grahame Whyte Tel: 01224 872881 Fax: 01224 878958 Kincorth Circle [email protected] Aberdeen AB12 5NL www.kincorth.aberdeen.sch.uk
190 Abbotswell School Allison Kerr Tel: 01224 872714 Fax: 01224 876270 Faulds Gate [email protected] Kincorth www.abbotswell.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB12 5QX
220 Charleston School Barbara Gray Tel: 01224 249349 Fax: 01224 896975 Charleston Road [email protected] Cove www.charleston.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB12 3FH
222 Kirkhill School Lorraine Napier Tel: 01224 874439 Fax: 01224 877885 Cairngorm Gardens [email protected] Kincorth www.kirkhill.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB12 5BS
329 Loirston School Kay MacDonald Tel: 01224 897686 Fax: 01224 896967 Loirston Avenue [email protected] Cove Bay www.loirston.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB12 3HE
40 s SCHOOLS g n i t SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS s ROLL TEACHER i 2011 L l 588 Northfield Academy Sue Muncer Tel: 01224 699715 Fax: 01224 685239 o Granitehill Place o [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 7AU h www.northfield.aberdeen.sch.uk c S
/ 168 Bramble Brae School Alan Baxter Tel: 01224 692618 Fax: 01224 699855
y Cummings Park Drive [email protected] r Aberdeen AB16 7BL www.bramblebrae.aberdeen.sch.uk e s r u 230 Heathryburn School Ian Mitchell Tel: 01224 788180 Fax: 01224 683153
N Howes Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 7RW
116 Holy Family RC Dorothy Hagan Tel: 01224 316446 Fax: 01224 326294 School [email protected] Summerhill Terrace www.holyfamilyrc.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB15 6HE
244 Manor Park School Paul Rooke Tel: 01224 812060 Fax: 01224 682106 Danestone Circle [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 7YB
256 Muirfield School Shonaid Tel: 01224 694958 Fax: 01224 696671 Mastrick Drive MacDonald [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 6UE www.muirfield.aberdeen.sch.uk
227 Quarryhill School Stephen Coutts Tel: 01224 692390 Fax: 01224 680497 Birkhall Parade [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 5QT www.quarryhill.aberdeen.sch.uk
230 Westpark School Fraser Cowie Tel: 01224 692323 Fax: 01224 695216 Cruden Crescent [email protected] Northfield www.westpark.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB16 7JD
41 SCHOOLS
SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS ROLL TEACHER 2011
909 Oldmachar Academy Derek Brown Tel: 01224 820887 Fax: 01224 823850 Jesmond Drive [email protected] Bridge of Don www.oldmachar.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB22 8UR
191 Danestone School George Roberts Tel: 01224 825062 Fax: 01224 707796 Fairview Brae [email protected] Danestone www.danestone.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB22 8ZN
202 Forehill School Douglas Ford Tel: 01224 820904 Fax: 01224 705614 Jesmond Drive [email protected] Bridge of Don www.forehill.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB22 8UR
242 Glashieburn School Margaret Tel: 01224 704476 Fax: 01224 707668 Jesmond Drive Winton [email protected] Bridge of Don www.glashieburn.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB22 8UR
162 Greenbrae School Sally Hynd Tel: 01224 704447 Fax: 01224 708475 Greenbrae Crescent [email protected] Bridge of Don www.greenbrae.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB23 8NJ
166 Middleton Park Alice McCardie Tel: 01224 820873 Fax: 01224 705571 School [email protected] Jesmond Drive www.middletonpark.aberdeen.sch.uk Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB22 8UR
42 s SCHOOLS g n i t SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS s ROLL TEACHER i 2011 L l 902 St Machar Academy Isabel McIntyre Tel: 01224 492855 Fax: 01224 276112 o St Machar Drive o [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 3YZ h www.st-macharacademy.aberdeen.sch.uk c S
/ Ashgrove Cheryl Elrick Tel: 01224 482293 Fax: 01224 482787
y Children’s Centre [email protected] r Gillespie Place e Aberdeen AB25 3BE s r u 308 Cornhill School Caroline Tel: 01224 483234 Fax: 01224 484121
N Cornhill Drive Thomson [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 5BL www.cornhill.aberdeen.sch.uk
183 Hanover Street Deborah Moir Tel: 01224 569880 Fax: 01224 589116 School [email protected] Beach Boulevard www.hanover.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB24 5HN
170 Kittybrewster School Ian Macindoe Tel: 01224 484451 Fax: 01224 495224 Great Northern Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 3QG www.kittybrewster.aberdeen.sch.uk
221 Riverbank School Maxine Jolly Tel: 01224 483217 Fax: 01224 488690 Dill Road [email protected] Tillydrone www.riverbank.aberdeen.sch.uk Aberdeen AB24 2XL
163 Seaton School Norma Tel: 01224 277920 Fax: 01224 492912 Seaton Place East Robertson [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 1XE www.seaton.aberdeen.sch.uk
244 Manor Park School Paul Rooke Tel: 01224 812060 Fax: 01224 682106 Danestone Circle [email protected] Aberdeen AB16 7YB
43 SCHOOLS
SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS ROLL TEACHER 2011
200 St Peter’s RC School Jo Martin Tel: 01224 485611 Fax: 01224 482612 74 Dunbar Street [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 3UJ www.st-peters.aberdeen.sch.uk
206 Sunnybank School Caroline Tel: 01224 261700 Fax: 01224 621174 Sunnybank Road Johnstone [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 3NJ www.sunnybank.aberdeen.sch.uk
327 Woodside School Alexander Burr Tel: 01224 484778 Fax: 01224 481878 Clifton Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 4EA www.woodside.aberdeen.sch.uk
477 Torry Academy Jenny Cranna Tel: 01224 876733 Fax: 01224 249597 Tullos Circle [email protected] Aberdeen AB11 8HD www.torry.aberdeen.sch.uk
275 Tullos School Joss Atkin Tel: 01224 876621 Fax: 01224 899415 Girdleness Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB11 8FJ www.tullosprimary.aberdeen.sch.uk
394 Walker Road School Jillian Merchant Tel: 01224 879720 Fax: 01224 873158 Walker Road [email protected] Torry Aberdeen AB11 8DL
44 s
l SPECIAL SCHOOLS o o SCHOOL NAME & ADDRESS HEAD CONTACT DETAILS h ROLL TEACHER c 2011 S l 4 Aberdeen School for Alison Martin Tel: 01224 261722 Fax: 01224 261723 a i the Deaf Mini Com: 01224 261724 c Sunnybank School [email protected] e Sunnybank Road
p Aberdeen AB24 3NJ S 35 Cordyce School Maureen Tel: 01224 724215 Fax: 01224 772738 Riverview Drive Simmers [email protected] Dyce Aberdeen AB21 7NF
68 Hazlewood School Jill Barry Tel: 01224 321363 Fax: 01224 311162 Fernielea Road [email protected] Aberdeen AB15 6GU
Pre School Additional Sheila Tel: 01224 277927 Fax: 01224 494607 Support Needs MacGregor (Seaton School) Service Ashgrove Children’s [email protected] Centre Gillespie Place Aberdeen AB25 3BE
Kaimhill School Pitmedden Terrace Aberdeen AB10 7HR
Seaton School (Community Entrance) Seaton Place East Aberdeen AB24 1XE
54 Woodlands School Caroline Tel: 01224 524393 Fax: 01224 483116 Regent Walk Stirton [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 1SX
45 LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES s e c i
SERVICE & ADDRESS CONTACT NAME CONTACT DETAILS v r
Aberdeen City Music School Lesley Adam Tel: 01224 725118 Fax: 01224 772571 e
Dyce Academy Head Teacher [email protected] S Riverview Drive t
Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 7NF r o
Active Schools Active Schools Tel: 0845 608 0935 p
Inspire Building Manager [email protected] p Beach Boulevard www.aberdencity.gov.uk/activeschools u Aberdeen AB24 5HP S
Adventure Aberdeen Jonathan Kitching Tel: 01224 270990 Fax: 01224 745879 g
Fairley Road Adventure [email protected] n i Kingswells Aberdeen Team www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/adventureaberdeen Aberdeen AB15 8PZ Leader n r
Arts Development Elspeth Winram Tel: 01224 814740 Fax: 01224 814666 a Balgownie 1 Community e
[email protected] L Conference Way, Bridge of Don Arts Manager www.artsdevelopment.co.uk Aberdeen AB23 8AQ (Acting)
Arts Education Jacky Hardacre Tel: 01224 814651 Fax: 01224 814972 Balgownie 1 Arts Education [email protected] Conference Way, Bridge of Don Co-ordinator Aberdeen AB23 8AQ (Acting)
The Communities Team Linda Clark Tel: 01224 523100 Fax: 01224 522022 Marischal College Team Manager [email protected] Business Hub 13 (Partnerships) Level 2 North Broad Street Linda Murray Tel: 01224 522801 Fax: 01224 522022 Aberdeen AB10 1AB Team Manager [email protected] (Lifelong Learning)
Caroline Brain Tel: 01224 522776 Fax: 01224 522022 Childcare Services [email protected] Team Manager
Susan McGregor Tel: 01224 522800 Fax: 01224 522022 Development [email protected] Manager - Adult Learning
Alona Murray Tel: 01224 523110 Fax: 01224 522022 Development [email protected] Manager - Performance and Commissioning
Elaine Sinclair Tel: 01224 522710 Fax: 01224 522022 Development [email protected] Manager - Neighbourhood Planning
46 s LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES e c i
v SERVICE & ADDRESS CONTACT NAME CONTACT DETAILS r
e The Communities Team Craig Singer Tel: 01224 523103 Fax: 01224 522022
S Marischal College Development [email protected] Business Hub 13 Manager - t r Level 2 North Young People o Broad Street
p Aberdeen AB10 1AB Colin Wright Tel: 01224 522781 Fax: 01224 522022
p Performance and [email protected]
u Quality Social Capacity Officer S
g Jackie Thain Tel: 0122 498130 Fax: 01224 522022 n Development [email protected] i Managers - n r Healthy Minds a e
L EAL Service Carole Simpson Tel: 01224 261717 Fax: 01224 641584 (English as an Additional Head Teacher [email protected] Language) (Acting) [email protected] EAL Sunnybank School Sunnybank Road Aberdeen AB24 3NJ
Educational Psychology Bill O’Hara Tel: 01224 814632 Fax: 01224 814898 Support Service Principal Balgownie 1 Educational Conference Way Psychologist Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
Family Learning Shona Foreman Tel: 01224 260028 Kittybrewster School (Senior Adult [email protected] Great Northern Road Literacies Worker) Aberdeen AB24 3QG
Gaelic Medium Education Gaelic Tel: 01224 642722 Development Officer [email protected]
Hospital and Home Maureen Simmers Tel: 01224 550317 Fax: 01224 550417 Tuition Service Head Teacher [email protected] Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital Lowit Unit Westburn Road Aberdeen AB25 2ZG
47 LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES
SERVICE & ADDRESS CONTACT NAME CONTACT DETAILS Language Development Units Wendy Wallace Tel: 01224 772220 Fax: 01224 772033 Dyce Language Unit Head Teacher [email protected] Gordon Terrace www.dyce.aberdeen.sch.uk Dyce Aberdeen AB21 7BD
Language Development Units Caroline Johnstone Tel: 01224 261700 Fax: 01224 621174 Sunnybank Language Unit Head Teacher [email protected] Sunnybank Road Aberdeen AB24 3NJ
Language Support Services Nancy Davidson Tel: 01224 498150 Fax: 01224 311938 Special Learning Difficulties Head Teacher [email protected] (Dyslexia) Unit www.kaimhill.aberdeen.sch.uk Kaimhill School Pitmedden Terrace Aberdeen AB10 7HR
Library and Information Fiona Clark Tel: 01224 652536 Service Library & Information [email protected] Central Library Service Manager www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/libraries Rosemount Viaduct Aberdeen AB25 1GW
Local Authority Nursery Shelley McDonald Tel: 01224 814654 Admissions [email protected] Balgownie 1 Conference Way Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
Pupil Support Service Barry Mitchell Tel: 01224 826850 Fax: 01224 826852 Riverview Drive [email protected] Dyce Aberdeen AB21 7NF
School Placing Requests Brenda Shearer Tel: 01224 522753/522609 Marischal College Fax: 01224 522022 Business Hub 13 [email protected] Level 2 North Broad Street Aberdeen AB10 1AB
School Transport Team Kostas Grammenos Tel: 01224 523760 Fax: 01224 523764 Marishcal College Technical Officer [email protected] Business Hub 11 Level 2 West Dawn Beagrie Tel: 01224 523848 Broad Street Support Assistant for Aberdeen AB10 1AB School Transport
48 s LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES e c i
v SERVICE & ADDRESS CONTACT NAME CONTACT DETAILS r
e Sensory Support Service Alison Martin Tel: 01224 261722 Fax: 01224 261723
S Hearing Support Service Head of Service Minicom: 01224 261724 Aberdeen School for the Deaf t [email protected] r Sunnybank School Moira Callan o Sunnybank Road Head of Hearing
p Aberdeen AB24 3NJ Support p u Senory Support Service Alison Martin Tel: 01224 715648 Fax: 01224 714957 S
Vision Support Service Head of Service [email protected]
g Newhills Primary School
n Wagley Parade Alison Price i Aberdeen AB21 9UB Head of Vision n Support r a e TASSCC Joan Elliot Tel: 01224 814781 Fax: 01224 814566 L Balgownie 1 Development Officer [email protected] Lower Ground [email protected] Conference Way Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
16+ Learning Choices John Cairns Tel: 01224 814787 Fax: 01224 814566 Balgownie 1 (16+ Learning [email protected] Conference Way Choices Bridge of Don Co-ordinator Aberdeen AB23 8AQ G
49 COMMUNITY CENTRES s e r Community Centres t n
Please direct all initial enquiries regarding Community Centres to: e
Alan Mulvie, Community Centre Liaison Officer C
Tel: 01224 872851 y t
Email: [email protected] i n u NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS m Airyhall Community Centre Tel: 01224 208082 Countesswells Road m Aberdeen AB15 8AD o C Airyhall 3R’s Tel: 01224 498084 Countesswells Road Aberdeen AB15 8AD
Alex Collie Sports and Community Centre Tel: 01224 826769 Westfield Park (off Scotstown Road) Aberdeen AB22 8PE
Altens Community Centre Tel: 01224 896798 Strathburn Street Altens Aberdeen AB12 3SE
Balgownie Community Centre Tel: 01224 704823 Scotstown Road Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB23 8HX
Balnagask Community Centre Tel: 01224 871206 Balnagask Road Torry Aberdeen AB11 8HZ
Beacon Community Centre Tel: 01224 710841 Bucksburn Community Campus Kepplehills Road Bucksburn Aberdeen AB21 9DG
Bridge of Don Community Centre Tel: 01224 701160 Braehead Way Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB22 8RR
Cairncry Community Centre Tel: 01224 698920 Foresterhill Road Aberdeen AB16 5HL
Carnegie Hall Dyce Tel: 01224 723493 Skene Place Dyce Aberdeen AB21 7AY
50 s COMMUNITY CENTRES e r t
n NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS e Catherine Street Community Centre Tel: 01224 640853 C
Catherine Street
y Aberdeen AB25 1EU t i
n Cornhill Community Centre Tel: 01224 493302
u Beachwood Road Aberdeen AB16 5BL m Cults 3R’s Tel: 01224 866282 m Quarry Road o Aberdeen AB15 9TP C Cummings Park Community Centre Tel: 01224 694060 Cummings Park Crescent Aberdeen AB16 7AS
Cummings Park Flat Tel: 01224 681357 122 Cummings Park Drive Aberdeen AB16 7BB
Danestone Community Centre Tel: 01224 828333 Fairview Street Danestone Aberdeen AB22 8ZP
Dyce Community Centre Tel: 01224 723344 Gordon Terrace Dyce Aberdeen AB21 7BD
Ferryhill Community Centre Tel: 01224 584118 Albury Road Aberdeen AB11 6TN
Froghall Community Centre Tel: 01224 640435 Powis Place Aberdeen AB25 3TX
Hanover Street Community Centre Tel: 01224 627328 106 Constitution Street Aberdeen AB24 1EX
Hazlehead 3R’s Tel: 01224 498110 Groats Road Aberdeen AB15 8BE
Hilton Community Centre Tel: 01224 277025 Hilton Road Aberdeen AB24 4HS
Inchgarth Community Centre Tel: 01224 325191 Aboyne Place Garthdee Aberdeen AB10 7DR
51 COMMUNITY CENTRES
NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS Kaimhill 3R’s Tel: 01224 498163 Pitmedden Terrace Aberdeen AB10 7HR
Kincorth Community Centre Tel: 01224 872851 Provost Watt Drive Kincorth Aberdeen AB12 5NA
Kingswells Community Centre Tel: 01224 741806 Kingswells Avenue Kingswells Aberdeen AB15 8TG
Loirston Annexe Tel: 01224 897235 Cove Road Aberdeen AB12 3NX
Lord Provost Henry Rae Tel: 01224 662792 Manor Avenue Aberdeen AB16 7UR
Manor Park 3R’s Tel: 01224 812073 Danestone Circle Aberdeen AB16 7YB
Mastrick Community Centre Tel: 01224 788288 Greenfern Road Aberdeen AB16 6TR
Mile End 3R’s Tel: 01224 498130 Midstocket Road Aberdeen AB15 5LQ
Northfield Community Centre Tel: 01224 695416 Byron Square Aberdeen AB16 7LL
Old Torry Community Centre Email: [email protected] Abbey Place Torry Aberdeen
Powis Gateway Community Centre Tel: 01224 484056 11 Powis Circle Aberdeen AB24 3YX
Rosemount Community Centre Tel: 01224 647594 Belgrave Terrace Aberdeen AB25 2NS
Ruthrieston Community Centre Tel: 01224 572211 532-536 Holburn Street Aberdeen AB10 7LL
52 s COMMUNITY CENTRES e r t
n NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS e Seaton 3R’s Tel: 01224 277930 C
Seaton Place East
y Aberdeen AB24 4SS t i
n Sheddocksley Community Centre Tel: 01224 684200
u Samburgh Crescent Aberdeen AB16 6WA m Sunnybank Community Centre Tel: 01224 261727 m Sunnybank Road o Aberdeen AB24 3NJ C Tillydrone Community Centre Tel: 01224 493388 Gordon Mills Road Aberdeen AB24 2RG
Tillydrone Community Flat Tel: 01224 486641 3B Alexander Terrace Tillydrone Aberdeen AB24 2QT
Tilly Youth Project Tel: 01224 495588 Formartine Road Aberdeen AB24 2TL
Tullos Community Centre Tel: 01224 291881 Girdleness Road Torry Aberdeen AB11 8FJ
Woodside Community Centre Tel: 01224 485983 Marquis Road Woodside Aberdeen AB24 2QY
53 LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES s e c i
NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS v r
Airyhall Library Tel: 01224 310536 e
Springfield Road S
Email: [email protected] Aberdeen AB15 7RF n o i
Bridge of Don Library Tel: 01224 702800 t
Scotstown Road a Bridge of Don Email: [email protected] m
Aberdeen AB22 8HH r o
Bucksburn Community Library Tel: 01224 710830 f
Kepplehills Road n I
Aberdeen AB21 9DG Email: [email protected] d n
Central Library Tel: 01224 652500 a Rosemount Viaduct Email: [email protected] y
Aberdeen AB25 1GW r a r
Cornhill Library Tel: 01224 696209 b i Cornhill Drive L Aberdeen AB16 5UT Email: [email protected]
Cove Library Tel: 01224 245350 Loirston Avenue Aberdeen AB12 3HE Email: [email protected]
Culter Library Tel: 01224 732587 North Deeside Road Aberdeen AB14 0UJ Email: [email protected]
Cults Library & Learning Centre Tel: 01224 868346 429 North Deeside Road Aberdeen AB15 9SX Email: [email protected]
Dyce Library Tel: 01224 723015 Riverview Drive Dyce Email: [email protected] Aberdeen AB21 7NF
Ferryhill Library Tel: 01224 581576 Fonthill Road Aberdeen Email: [email protected] AB11 6UP
54 s LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES e c i
v NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS r
e Kaimhill Library & Learning Centre Tel: 01224 498160
S Kaimhill School Logde Pitmedden Terrace E-mail: [email protected] n Aberdeen AB10 7HR o i t Kincorth Customer Access Point & Library Tel: 01224 872572 a Provost Watt Drive Email: [email protected] Aberdeen AB12 5NA m r o f Mastrick Library Tel: 01224 788558 n Greenfern Road I
Aberdeen AB16 6TR Email: [email protected] d n
a Northfield Library Tel: 01224 695104 Byron Square y Email: [email protected] r Aberdeen AB16 7LL a r
b Tillydrone Library & Learning Centre Tel. 01224 276975 i Pennan Road L Aberdeen AB24 2UD Email: [email protected]
Torry Library Tel: 01224 879037 Victoria Road Aberdeen AB11 9NJ Email: [email protected]
Woodside Library Tel: 01224 484534 356 Clifton Road Aberdeen AB24 4DX Email: [email protected]
Mobile Library Tel: 01224 652514 c/o Central Library Rosemount Viaduct Email: [email protected] Aberdeen AB25 1GW
Home Library Tel: 01224 498930 c/o Airyhall Library Springfield Road Email: [email protected] Aberdeen AB15 7RF
55 ARTS AND SPORTS s t r o
NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS p S
Aberdeen International Youth Festival Tel: 01224 213800
Custom House E-mail: [email protected] d
Regent Quay n
Aberdeen AB11 5BE a
Aberdeen Performing Arts Tel: 01224 337664 s t
(including Lemon Tree) Email: [email protected] r
HMT A Rosemount Viaduct Aberdeen AB25 1GL
Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association Tel: 01224 585552 81 Polmuir Road Aberdeen AB11 7SJ
Aberdeen Snow Sports Centre Tel: 01224 810215 Garthdee Road E-mail: [email protected] Aberdeen AB10 7BA
Aberdeen Sports Council Tel: 01224 814763 AECC E-mail: [email protected] Conference Walk Bridge of Don Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
Aberdeen Sports Village Tel: 01224 438900 Linksfield Road E-mail: [email protected] Aberdeen AB24 5RU
Aberdeen Arts Centre Tel: 01224 635208 33 King Street Aberdeen AB24 5AA
Belmont Media Centre Tel: 01224 343534 51 Belmont Street Aberdeen AB10 1JS
Creative Cultures Scotland Tel: 07963 863699 The Loft Email: [email protected] 50 Cotton Street Aberden AB11 5EE
Cultural Enterprise Office Tel: 0844 544 9990 50 Bell Street E-mail: [email protected] Merchant City Glasgow G1 1LQ
Dons in the Community Tel: 01224 650408 Pittodrie Stadium Pittodrie Street Aberdeen AB24 5QH
56 s ARTS AND SPORTS t r o
p NAME & ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS S
Jazz Scotland Tel: 0845 111 0302
d 89 Giles Street
n Edinburgh EN6 6BZ a Limousine Bull Arts Collective Tel: 01224 877001 s t Unit 3C, Deemouth Business Centre
r Email: [email protected] South Esplanade East A Aberdeen AB11 9PB
Peacock Visual Arts Tel: 01224 639539 21 Castle Street E-mail: [email protected] Aberdeen AB11 5BQ
Scottish Culture & Traditions Tel: 01224 591900 4 Bon Accord Crescent Email: [email protected] Aberdeen AB11 6DH
Scottish Hockey Tel: 0131 4539070 589 Lanark Road Edinburgh EH14 5DA
Scottish Rugby Tel: 07764 178941 Hillhead Centre Keith Park Don Street Aberdeen AB24 1XR
Sound Tel: 01330 826526 c/o Woodend Barn E-mail: [email protected] Burn O’Bennie Banchory AB31 5QA
Sport Aberdeen Tel: 0845 601 3611 Inspire Building Email: [email protected] Beach Boulevard Aberdeen AB24 5HP
Station House Media Unit (SHMU) Tel: 01224 515013 Station Road E-mail: [email protected] Woodside Aberdeen AB24 2WB
University of Aberdeen Tel: 01224 272000 Office of External Affairs University of Aberdeen Kings College Aberdeen AB24 3FX
57 s
Education, Culture and Sport Directorate t c a
Director of Education, Culture and Sport t n
Annette Bruton o
Business Hub 12, Level 2 West C
Marischal College l u
Broad Street f Aberdeen AB10 1AB e s
Tel: 01224 523458 U
Head of Communities, Culture and Sport Patricia Cassidy Business Hub 13, Level 2 North Tel: 01224 522473
Head of Schools and Educational Establishments David Leng Business Hub 13, Level 2 North Tel: 01224 523517
Head of Educational Development, Policy and Performance Charlie Penman Business Hub 13, Level 2 North Marischal College Broad Street Aberdeen AB10 1AB Tel: 01224 522375
Family Information Service Comprehensive, up to date information on all childcare, education and family support services for children and young people. Tel: 01224 814803 or Text 07825 053 136 Email: [email protected] www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/fis
58 s
t National Contacts c a
t Children in Scotland n Children in Scotland is the national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional o organisations and individuals working together with children and their families in C
Scotland. l u www.childreninscotland.org.uk f e s Enquire U The Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning Tel: 0845 123 2303 or 0131 222 2425 Email: [email protected] www.enquire.org.uk
Education Scotland www.educationscotland.gov.uk
Care Inspectorate (Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland) Johnstone House Rose Street Aberdeen AB10 1UD Tel: 01224 793870 www.careinspectorate.com
Scottish Government Education Department www.scotland.gov.uk (Click on Education & Training)
Scottish Parent Teacher Council The national organisation for parents’ groups in Scottish schools Tel: 0131 2264378 Email: [email protected] www.sptc.info
The National Parent Forum of Scotland Give parent councils and parents an opportunity to discuss and raise educational issues or mutual interest or concern at a national level. http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone/getinvolved/forumscotland/index.asp
The Parent Zone Find out how you can support your child’s education; information for parents and carers. http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone/
59 Session 2012 - 2013 s e t
Term 1 a D
l Teachers Training Day - Monday 20 August 2012
l Pupils Return - Tuesday 21 August 2012 m r
l September Holiday - Friday 21 and Monday 24 September 2012 e T l Term Ends - Friday 12 October 2012 l October Holiday - Monday 15 to Friday 26 October 2012
Term 2 l Term Starts - Monday 29 October 2012 l Term Ends - Friday 21 December 2012 l Christmas Holiday - Monday 24 December 2012 to Friday 4 January 2013
Term 3 l Term Starts - Monday 7 January 2013 l Mid Term - Monday 11 February 2013 l Term Ends - Thursday 28 March 2013 l Easter Holiday - Friday 29 March to Friday 12 April 2013 (Good Friday 29 March 2013)
Term 4 l Term Starts - Monday 15 April 2013 l May Day Holiday - Monday 6 May 2013 l Term Ends - Friday 5 July 2013
In-Service Days l Monday 20 August 2012
60 k Comments, Complaints & Feedback c a
b Aberdeen City Council aims to provide a good sound education service for children in d the city. To help maintain this service any comments received are valued. Should you e wish to comment on any aspect of your child’s education, copies of the Council’s e leaflet - ‘Absolute Customer Commitment’ are available at education establishments F and other Council services. If there are issues you are unhappy about in connection &
with your child’s education you should contact the Head Teacher of your child’s school s
t as a first step. If, after discussion with the Head Teacher, you are unhappy with the
n way in which your complaint has been dealt with, you should write to the Director, who i
a will forward your complaint to the appropriate officer. See useful contacts on page 56. l p Scottish Public Services Ombudsman m o Under the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 members of the public have C
the right to complain to the Public Services Ombudsman about services that they , receive from public bodies, including local authorities. s t n The Role of the Ombudsman e The Ombudsman has the power to investigate complaints against the Council in m relation to maladministration and service failure. This includes the power to investigate
m maladministration in the internal organisation and management of schools. o The Ombudsman does not have the power to investigate professional education
C matters ie the giving of instruction, conduct, curriculum or discipline in any educational establishment under the management of Aberdeen City Council. The Ombudsman may investigate matters only where there is a claim that a member of the public has sustained injustice or hardship in consequence of the maladministration, service failure or other action as appropriate.
Time Limit A complaint must be submitted within 12 months after the day in which the person aggrieved first had notice of the matter complained of, unless the Ombudsman is satisfied that there are special circumstances which make it appropriate to consider a complaint outwith that period.
Contacting the Ombudsman Members of the public may contact the Ombudsman direct once they have completed the Council’s internal complaint process. Individuals may also give written authorisation to a representative to act on their behalf eg MSP or local Councillor.
Complaints should normally be made in writing to: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Freepost EH641 Edinburgh EH3 0BR Tel: 0800 377 7330 Fax: 0800 377 7331 Text: 0790 049 4372 E-mail: [email protected] website: www.spso.org.uk 61 Feedback k c
We would like your help to evaluate this guide. Please spend a few minutes a giving your opinions so that we can improve the information provided to suit the b d
needs of parents. We are particularly interested to know if there was e
information you needed as a parent which was not included. e F
Overall did you find the document: &
s
4 Very helpful 3 Helpful 2 Quite helpful 1 Unhelpful t n i
How could the document be improved? a l p m o C
, s t n e m m o C
Omissions
Thank you for completing this questionnaire Please return this questionnaire to Family Information Service Balgownie 1, 1st Floor Conference Way Aberdeen AB23 8AQ
62
AGUIDE TO EDUCATION SERVICES
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk 01224 814803
For more information or further copies please contact: Family Information Service Balgownie 1, 1st Floor Conference Way Aberdeen AB23 8AQ Tel: 01224 814803 or Text 07825 053 136 Email: [email protected] www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/fis