School Handbook Session 2020/2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Corstorphine Primary School This document is subject to changes in response to Covid 19 School Handbook Session 2020/2021 A Foreword from the Head of Schools and Lifelong Learning and Chief Education Officer Session 2020 - 2021 Dear Parents/Carers, This brochure contains a range of information about your child’s school which will be of interest to you and your child. It offers an insight into the life and ethos of the school and also offers advice and assistance which you may find helpful in supporting and getting involved in your child’s education. We are committed to working closely with parents as equal partners in your child's education, in the life of your child's school and in city-wide developments in education. Parental involvement in the decision making process and in performance monitoring are an integral part of school life. We look forward to developing that partnership with your support. Throughout this handbook the term ‘parent’ has the meaning attributed in the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000 and the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006. This includes grandparents, carer or anyone else who has parental responsibility for the child. I am pleased to introduce this brochure for session 2020 - 2021 and hope that it will provide you with the information you need concerning your child’s school. If you have any queries regarding the contents of the brochure please contact the Head Teacher of your child’s school in the first instance who will be happy to offer any clarification you may need. Andy Gray Head of Schools and Lifelong Learning and Chief Education Officer Children and Families Vision Our vision is for all children and young people in Edinburgh to enjoy their childhood and fulfil their potential. We believe that children and young people do best when: • they are able to live safely and happily within their own families with the right kind of support as needed • they attend first class, inclusive schools and early years settings which meet their needs We will do all we can to strengthen support for families, schools and communities to meet their children's needs. Our mission is to place children, young people and families at the heart of our service and provide support when it is needed throughout childhood and the transition to adulthood. In Edinburgh children and young people are at the heart of our vision for the future. As an inclusive community we work with parents, carers and, where appropriate, partner agencies to support all children and young people. By working together, we help children and young people to develop understanding about relationships, respect, teamwork, honesty, fairness, patience, and compassion. We do this by offering interesting and relevant learning experiences, by providing our staff with the training and resources they need, and by working with the whole community to accept and care for one another. This isn’t always easy, but we believe it is essential so that our children and young people understand the people they meet and learn how to work together to handle setbacks and difficult situations throughout their lives. When children and young people experience adverse events or as a response to their additional support need, they let us know by reacting in different ways. This presents difficulties for those around them. By working together, by understanding the cause and working out solutions, we can find a way to solve or deal with a problem. If it takes time to get over a problem we will work with a child, young person, and their family to work out the best way forward. This may involve making adaptations and providing additional support or in exceptional circumstances identifying a change of environment. We recognise that we all experience difficult times, and that everyone deserves the best possible care and support. In Edinburgh we support children and young people to learn in different ways according to their needs. As children and young people learn to read, write, and count some require more support than others do. This need for support arises for a variety of reasons learning difficulties, challenges with emotional regulation and social communication issues. We must meet the needs of all our students in a fair, compassionate, and proportionate way. In considering how to support all children and young people reach their full potential it may not always be possible to arrive at a resolution all parties agree. However, we will to listen to any parent, young person, child or member of staff and work together to resolve difficulties. We are committed to do all we can to make Edinburgh an inclusive place to live and learn. Alistair Gaw Executive Director for Communities and Families Welcome from the Head Teacher Dear Parents and Carers, Welcome to the Corstorphine Primary School Handbook for session 2020/21 - we are delighted to share information about our school with you. This handbook offers an introduction to our school and a general overview of the education your child will be getting at school. To make our handbook easy to use we have divided the information into five different sections: - ➢ Section One Vision and Values ➢ Section Two Practical Information ➢ Section Three Communication ➢ Section Four Learning at Corstorphine ➢ Section Five Parental Engagement ➢ Section Six Support for Pupils ➢ Section Seven Partnership ➢ Section Eight Stage Specific Information ➢ Section Nine Wider Learning Opportunities ➢ Section Ten School Improvement Plan 2019-2020 If you have any questions or would like any further information on any aspect of this handbook or the education of your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school. Yours, Mrs Pamela Briggs Head Teacher . Contents Section Information 1 Vision and Values 2 Practical Information 3 Communication 4 Learning at Corstorphine 5 Parental Engagement 6 Support for Pupils 7 Partnerships 8 Stage Specific Information 9 Wider Learning Opportunities Section 1 Our Vision and Values Vision At the heart of Corstorphine village, we aspire to equip everyone with the tools they need to thrive. Values We demonstrate KITH by being... • Kind • Inclusive • Trustworthy • Honest School Rules Safe Ready to Learn Respectful Corstorphine Primary School Behaviour Policy – May 2019 Our Vision At the heart of Corstorphine village, we aspire to equip everyone with the tools they need to thrive. Our Values Kind Inclusive Trustworthy Honest Our Rules Ready to Learn Safe Respectful At Corstorphine Primary School we are committed to creating an environment where exemplary behaviour is at the heart of productive learning. Everyone is expected to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct, to accept responsibility for behaviour and to encourage others to do the same. Our policy is built on consistency and echoes our core values of being Kind, Inclusive, Trustworthy and Honest within a culture of Fairness, Respect and Equality; and working in partnership with pupils, parents, staff and outside agencies. At Corstorphine Primary School we adhere to both the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government advice to protect all children and young people from all forms of bullying including prejudice-based and cyber bullying and we aim to prevent such behaviours from developing (www.edinburgh.gov.uk and www.respectme.org.uk). Bullying is a breach of Children’s Rights and will be recorded and monitored in accordance with Local Authority guidance. Bullying is both behaviour and impact: the impact on a person’s capacity to feel in control of themselves. Bullying takes place in the context of relationships; it is behaviour that can make people feel hurt, threatened, frightened or left out. This behaviour happens face to face and online (respectme 2015). To inform the writing of our policy we consulted widely with pupils, parents and carers, staff and members of our wider school community and also reflected advice at local and national level so that all have ownership. Our Aims ❖ To create a culture of exceptionally positive behaviour – for learning; for community; for life ❖ To help learners to take responsibility for their behaviour and the associated consequences of it through our restorative approach (see questions overleaf) ❖ To ensure that excellent behaviour is an expectation for all ❖ To plan lessons that engage, challenge and meet the needs of all learners ❖ To ensure that all are treated fairly, shown respect and to promote good relationships as the foundation of our community and in all that we do and say ❖ To promote consistency in practice – through rules, language, positive reinforcement, consequences, respect from adults, models of emotional control, ‘follow-up’ and certainty ❖ To demonstrate a learning community where each child is valued as an individual and which supports their sense of belonging and is a central part of inclusion and the core principles of the ‘4 Rs’ – Relationships, Rights Respecting, Resilience Building and Restorative (Edinburgh Learns; Inclusion) ❖ To create an environment where prejudice is challenged and diversity is celebrated. The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with ‘protected characteristics’ – including age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, sex, religion or belief or sexual orientation ‘An inclusive approach affords all children and young people the opportunity to be a part of a community, boosting their emotional well-being and aiding the development of social skills. Scotland’s inclusive approach celebrates diversity and allows all children and young people to develop an understanding and recognition of differences, contributing to the development of an increasingly inclusive, empathetic and more just society.’ Consultation on excellence and equity for all; guidance on the presumption of mainstreaming (2017), Ministerial Foreword Ready to Learn Safe Respectful How learners will behave How staff will behave 1. Follow the school rules 1. ‘Meet and Greet’ and ‘End and Send’ 2.