Welcome to Kingsweils Primary School
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School Handbook 1 | P a g e Welcome At Kingswells school staff are committed to providing pupils with a good quality of education and pastoral care. We have a strong emphasis on pupil welfare and promoting personal development. We aim to help each child realise their full potential by making the learning both enjoyable and challenging. We encourage our pupils to aim high; academically, socially, in sports and the arts. This cultivates skills for life, learning and work to bring them success in their future. Pupils benefit from parents, school staff and outside agencies working together. We work hard to build successful partnerships to enhance and enrich their educational experience. Every child in our school matters. This handbook contains important information about our school and nursery. Further information can be found on our website and in our Standards and Quality report. https://kingswells.aberdeen.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/ACC-19-20-SQUIP-Part-One-Standards-and-Quality-Report-2018-19.pdf https://kingswells.aberdeen.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/ACC-19-20-SQUIP-Part-Two-School-Improvement-Plan-2019-20.pdf We look forward to working with you and your child over the coming years. 2 | P a g e Contents School Information Page 3-4 School Times Page 4 Communication Page 5 Attendance Page 6 School Uniform, School Catering Page 7 Enrolment Page 8 Transition Page 9 Permission, Admin forms and Data Protection Page 10 School holidays, Transport and After-School Care Page 10 School Vision, Values and Aims Page 11-12 Curriculum for Excellence Page 12-14 School Achievements Page 14 Music Tuition; Pupil Opportunities; Homework Page 15 Extra-Curricular activities; Assessment and Reporting Page 16 Pupils Leading Learning Page 17 School Policies and Behaviour Page 18 Inclusion & Additional Support Page 19 Child Protection Page 20 Health Page 20-21 Parental Involvement Page 21-22 Links with local wider community Page 22 Useful links Page 23 Kingswells Staff Page 24-25 Concerns Page 26 Medical Consent Form Page 27 School Information Kingswells School Kingswells Avenue Kingswells Aberdeen AB15 8TG Telephone :01224 740262 E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://kingswells.aberdeen.sch.uk/ Twitter: KingswellsSch Kingswells Parent Teacher Association: [email protected] Kingswells Parent Council: [email protected] 3 | P a g e Kingswells School provides two years of pre-school education and seven years of primary education, in line with Scottish Government policy. Kingswells is a non-denominational school and serves the catchment area of Kingswells. Our pupil roll is 470; this includes pupils from our eighty-place nursery. This session the school has sixteen primary classes. Our nursery has 40 morning places and 40 afternoon places. The school is a modern open plan facility, mainly single storey though rising to two levels in the extension. We have a large, well equipped playground which is regularly used by the local community out with school hours. The children are supervised in the playground by our team of Pupil Support Assistants with the support of the Senior Management Team. Our P7 pupils are trained to play games with our younger pupils. During lunch/break times children play outside except in adverse weather. Children should be sent to school with appropriate clothing. We value our pupils’ contribution to the life of the school and their conscientious and enthusiastic attitudes to learning. We celebrate their attainment and achievements both in and out of school. Kingswells School belongs to Bucksburn Associated School’s Group along with Brimmond Primary and Stoneywood Primary. All 3 primary schools feed in to Bucksburn Academy. Staff from these schools meet regularly to discuss educational matters and develop initiatives together. School Times Nursery- Morning session: 8.35 am - 11.45 am Afternoon session :12.25 pm - 3.35 pm There is a 15 minute staggered start & end time to the nursery sessions P1-P3 - 9 am – 12.30 pm 1.30 pm - 3.15 pm P4-P7 - 9 am -12.45 pm 1.45 pm - 3.15 pm P1-3 children should be collected from school by an adult at the end of the school day. P4-7 pupils may walk home independently when parents feel they are able to do so safely. 4 | P a g e Communication Effective communication and co-operation are at the heart of successful education. Information is passed between home and school via: Xpressions* e-mails/ text messages, nursery/school newsletters, Dojo, school website, Twitter account, Parent Council & PTA Facebook page, screen in foyer, phone calls, homework diary for P1-P3, informal contact, arranged meetings or letters. *Xpressions is an APP that can be loaded onto Apple and Android devices and is a portal for all communication from school to be accessed in one area. Notifications can be set up which let you know that new communication has been sent by the school. Paper copies of any communication can be requested through the school office. You can sign up for notifications from the school website by clicking on the E-Mail News Updates section on the homepage. If you wish to talk with a class teacher it is best to make an appointment out with class times. Should you require additional information, or if you have any concerns, you can arrange to talk with a member of our Senior Management Team by making an appointment. Mobile telephones are not permitted by pupils at any time. In an emergency pupils and parents can contact each other through the school office. In the event of adverse weather conditions the school will inform parents of school closures by Xpressions where possible. Information can also be found at Aberdeen City Council’s website: www.aberdeencity.gov.uk and on Northsound radio. It is essential that the school office has an up-to-date record of each child’s address, home telephone number, parents’ day-time number, e-mail, mobile number and at least one other emergency contact number. This should be the number of a relative or family friend living close by and prepared to serve as an emergency contact in the event of an accident or ill health. Please help us by ensuring that you inform us of any changes. 5 | P a g e Attendance The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 requires parents to ensure their children receive a suitable education from the age of five. This is normally provided through attendance at school and parents have a duty to ensure regular attendance. Parents should ensure that children attend school punctually as we are required to record all late arrivals to school. If a child is absent parents must phone school before 9.30am or, for afternoon absences before 1.30pm. Any unexplained absence is followed up and the school office will contact the parents or emergency contact. Following illness, children should only return to school when they are fit to do so. If a child is recovering from an injury or illness and requires amendment to their routine, parents should discuss this with school staff. In accordance with NHS Guidelines children who have suffered from diarrhoea/sickness should remain at home for 48 hours after their last episode. A note is required for withdrawal of pupils during school hours and the child must be collected from school. For safety reasons, pupils are not allowed to leave school on their own during the school day. Schools are required to report absence figures and to identify rates of authorised and unauthorised absence. Family holidays will be counted as ‘unauthorised’ absence. It is the policy of the school and the Local Authority to discourage this practice. If pupils have a high level of lates or absences parents will be contacted. We are keen to encourage children to walk to school. This increases exercise opportunities and reduces traffic congestion. If parents drive pupils to school we suggest they park some distance from the school and then walk. Please be vigilant in keeping your child safe. There is no access to the school car park for parents conveying children to and from school. It is ACC policy that no pets (except assistance dogs) are allowed in any part of the school including playground and car parks. Parents and visitors must report to reception and sign in if visiting school. 6 | P a g e School Uniform We have an expectation that all of our pupils wear school uniform. The school uniform supplier is WCS Scotland Ltd, 687 George Street, Aberdeen, AB25 3XP. Telephone: 01224 658381. E-mail: [email protected] Our uniform is: black/grey trousers/shorts/skirt/pinafore, red/white checked dresses, white shirt, white or red polo shirt, red sweatshirt/cardigan, black shoes (not trainers), school tie (optional), Kingswells school jacket/fleece (optional). Gym kit: navy/black shorts, a polo shirt and gym shoes, are required for PE. Indoor shoes must be worn for P.E. Pupils should not wear any jewellery which may be a hazard e.g hoop/dangling earrings, long necklaces etc. School Clothing Grants Application forms are available from the School Office. Any parent who considers their child may be eligible, or who wishes confidential advice, should contact the Head Teacher. Lost Property Lost property is collected in school and pupils are encouraged to check for missing belongings. Parents should ensure that all items of clothing and personal property are clearly marked. School Catering School meals are provided for pupils by Aberdeen City Council. They are provided free of charge for P1-3 pupils. Meals are prepared in our school kitchen and menus are available to support parents to help their child with their selection. Children may choose from two or three main courses daily, provision is made for children who require a special diet e.g.