Rhynie Primary School 2020 / 2021 2 |Introduction to Rhynie Primary School Contents Introduction to Rhynie Primary School 4 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos 6 Curriculum 7 Assessment and Reporting 11 Transitions (Moving On) 13 1 Admissions 13 2 Placing requests & School Zones 13 Support for Children and Young People 14 3 Getting it Right for Every Child 14 4 Wellbeing 14 5 Children’s Rights 15 6 The Named Person 15 7 Educational Psychology 16 8 Enhanced Provision & Community Resource Hubs 17 9 Support for Learning 17 10 The Child’s Plan 18 11 Child Protection 19 12 Further Information on Support for Children and Young People 20 Parent & Carer Involvement and Engagement 21 13 Parental Engagement 21 14 Communication 21 15 Learning at Home 22 16 ParentsPortal.scot 22 17 Parent Forum and Parent Council 23 18 Parents and School Improvement 23 19 Volunteering in school 23 20 Collaborating with the Community 23 21 Addressing Concerns & Complaints 24 School Policies and Useful Information 25 22 Attendance 25 23 Holidays during term time. 25 24 Dress Code 26 Introduction to Rhynie Primary School | 3 25 Clothing Grants 26 26 Transport 26 27 Privilege Transport 27 28 Early Learning & Childcare Transport 28 29 Special Schools and Enhanced Provision 28 30 School Closure & Other Emergencies 28 31 Storm Addresses 29 32 Change of address and Parental Contact Details 29 33 Anti-bullying Guidance 30 34 School Meals 31 35 Healthcare & Medical 32 36 Schools and Childcare – Coronavirus 34 37 Exclusion 34 38 Educational Visits 34 39 Instrumental Tuition 34 40 Public Liability Insurance 35 41 School Off Site Excursion Insurance 35 42 Data we hold and what we do with it. 36 43 The information we collect from you 36 44 Your Data, Your Rights 36 45 Parental Access to Records 37 46 Information Sharing 37 47 ScotXed 37 Further Information 39 4 |Introduction to Rhynie Primary School All information in this handbook is correct as of October 2020 Introduction to Rhynie Primary School Welcome to Rhynie Primary School School Contact Details Acting Head Teacher – Miss S Crawford Rhynie Primary Essie Rd Rhynie Huntly Aberdeenshire AB54 4GF Telephone:- 01464 635105 Email:- [email protected] Twitter:- @rhynieschool Website:- www.Rhynie.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Pin Number:- 02 2510 Introduction to Rhynie Primary School | 5 Dear Parent/Carer Welcome to Rhynie Primary School. I hope that our partnership will be beneficial to all of us and that your child settles well into the life of our school. We take pride in the fact that this is a happy, friendly and hard-working school with a real sense of team spirit. We hope that your child enjoys his/her time here. The education of a child is much too important to be left to school alone. So parents have a very special role to play too. The School Handbook explains what you can expect from our school and also what we expect from you in the way of partnership, support and help. Aberdeenshire Council School Handbooks are designed to inform parents of many aspects of school life, and if it has been written in response to ‘School Handbook Guidance (Scotland) Regulations 2012. We hope you find our handbook clear and informative. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions for improvements. Yours sincerely Miss S Crawford Acting Head Teacher Please note – “parent” includes guardian and any person who is liable to maintain or has parental responsibilities (with the section 1 (3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) in relation to, or has care of a child or young person. Adverse weather and emergency closure https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Apps/schools-closures/ Information Line 0370 054 4999 02 2510 (Please do not use this line to leave messages for the school.) 6 |Our Vision, Values and School Ethos Our Vision, Values and School Ethos Rhynie Primary School is situated at the heart of the village of Rhynie in Aberdeenshire, some 40 miles west of Aberdeen and 11 miles south of Huntly. It is and area of great, natural beauty in the lee of Tap O’Noth. The school is non-denominational and the catchment area is the village of Rhynie and its surrounding countryside. Once a Junior secondary school, Rhynie Primary School is a thriving school with a nursery attached. The school building is on one level, built of traditional stone. The school consists of four classrooms, an assembly hall/dining room suitable for P.E., Drama, Music and other activities, a working canteen, an office, a meeting room, a G.P. area and a staffroom. The school is used by the community throughout the year and especially during the winter months. The school has a large playground, marked for games, with flower barrels and tyres, large play equipment, 2 murals a willow tunnel, a wildlife garden and a large climbing wall. Most of the playground equipment and the climbing wall were paid through many fundraising enterprises and a Lotter Grant. A couple of years ago we had new equipment installed in our playground, a hang out hut, noughts and crosses board, vowels board, weather station, solar powered clock and a blackboard and magnetic board for the children to play with. The school roll is currently 30 children including 14 in the Nursery. There are three classes at present: Nursery, P1/2/3/4 and P5/6/7. There are three teaching staff, one of which is the Acting Head Teacher. The teaching team is supported by a dedicated and enthusiastic staff including with 2 part- time PSA’s, we have a joint Senior EYSP, a Lead Early Years practitioner, an Early Years Practitioner, an administrator, a cleaner, a cook and a kitchen assistant. We have a janitor to help us for 2.5 hours per week. Currently our visiting specialists from August 2020 teach P.E. and Art. Rhynie Primary School is a member of the Huntly Community Schools Network (CSN). The other member schools are Cairney, Glass, Clatt, Drumblade, Gartly, Premnay, Kennethmont, Forgue, Largue, Insch, Gordon Primary and The Gordon Schools. Children move on to The Gordon Schools in Huntly after issues as the curriculum, assessment and moderation, reporting, resources and any initiatives which will progress the quality of education for pupils in the Huntly network. Community links are valued and the school is very well supported by parents and the village in general. People come in to school to help or share their expertise. We have an active Parent Teacher Council who support the school and the Head Teacher. They fundraise for the school through very successful social events e.g. coffee morning, etc. All parents are encouraged to involve themselves in the day to day life of our school community and their support is always welcome. The school operates its budget in line with Aberdeenshire Authority Guidelines. The school received a very good report showing progress and achievement, from HMIe in November 2014. The Nursery recently had a care Commission Inspection and are awaiting the results. Creating a safe, happy and motivating school is central to our ethos. We work very hard to encourage and maintain a school environment in which everyone is encouraged to do their best and fulfil their potential. We value everyone for who they are and foster respect for all. Curriculum | 7 Curriculum Within our school, we aim to provide a curriculum that is both inclusive and ambitious for all – a curriculum which is both academically challenging and also provides opportunities to develop skills for learning, life and work. Our curriculum will be based around the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence – to ensure our pupils are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Our curriculum will also reflect the principles of curriculum design to ensure breadth, depth, personalisation & choice, challenge & enjoyment, progression, coherence and relevance. We will, therefore have a curriculum which we will adapt continuously over time to meet the needs of our pupils. Following the principles of Curriculum for Excellence, achievement of children and young people is celebrated in its broadest sense. This means looking beyond formally assessed learning, to recognise activities like volunteering and participation in arts, sports and community-based programmes. This approach complements the nurturing and aspirational outcomes of Getting It Right for Every Child, and our aim in Aberdeenshire to overcome inequality by Raising Attainment for All, promoting Equity and Excellence in schools, and Closing the Gap. Further information on the schools approach to Curriculum for Excellence including information for parents, can be found on the school website at: www.Rhynie.aberdeenshire.sch.uk. Curricular Areas • Literacy and English Language: Listening, Talking Reading and Writing. • Numeracy and Mathematics: Number, Money and Measure, Information Handling, Shape, Position and Movement. • Health & Wellbeing: Mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing, Physical education, activity and sport, Food and health, Substance misuse, Relationships, sexual health and parenthood. • Social Studies: People, past events and societies, People, place and environment, People, society, economy and business. • Sciences: Planet Earth, Forces, electricity and waves, Biological Systems, Materials, Topical Sciences. • Technologies: Technological developments in society, Business technology skills and knowledge, Computing science, Food and textiles, Craft, design, engineering and graphics. • Expressive Arts: Music, Drama, Art and Design and Dance. • Religious and Moral Education: Christianity, World