School Handbook - 2012/ 2013
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“Working Together and doing our Best for Success” School Handbook - 2012/ 2013 This document is available in alternative formats (Please contact the Head Teacher) - 1 - WELCOME LETTER Old Rayne School Lawrence Road Old Rayne Insch Aberdeenshire AB52 6RY Tel – 01464 851213 Email – [email protected] Website - www.oldrayne.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Information Line Tel – tel 0870 054 4999 (Old Rayne’s pin number is 022370) Dear Parents At Old Rayne Primary every child is regarded as an important person, with the right to an excellent education in a happy and secure setting. The education of a child is far too important to be left to a school alone. Parents have a very important part to play too. The school handbook explains what you can expect of the school and also indicates what the school expects of you in the way of partnership, help and support. Parents’ enquiries and visits to the school are welcomed and the staff are ready to answer queries and discuss concerns. Aberdeenshire Council School Handbooks are designed to inform parents of as many aspects of life at Old Rayne School as we can, and has been written in response to ‘School Handbook Guidance (Scotland) Regulations 2012.’ The information in this booklet is intended to provide an introduction to the school and to advise parents of our organisation and facilities. Details of our aims, values and approaches to teaching and learning are also included for your information. We keep parents up to date with current events, holiday dates and general information via regular newsletters, on the school website, through Glow and our school’s Facebook Page. Yours sincerely Mrs Fiona Eaton Head Teacher Please note – “Parent” includes guardian and any person who is liable to maintain or has parental responsibilities (within the section 1 (3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) in relation to, or has care of a child or young person. Please note that whilst all information within this booklet is correct at the time of printing, it is possible that some items may change during the course of the year. - 2 - CONTENTS PAGE Section 1 – General School Information Section 3 – Parental Involvement/Pupil Contact Information – 5 Welfare & Support School Background – 6 Parental Involvement & The Parent Council Visits of Prospective Parents – 7 – 34 Admission/Enrolment/School Zone – 8 Communication - 35 Organisation of School Day – 8 Health Care/Dental Inspection & School Uniform –9 Administration of Medicines – 36&37 Pupil Belongings & Valuables – 9 Transitions & Transfer to Secondary School Equipment – 9 School –37 Arrival at School & Playground Child Protection – 39 Information – 10 Support for Pupils & Key Worker –40&41 School Office – 11 Support for Learners – 41 School Meals/ Play piece/ Tuck shop/ Additional Support Needs Policy – 45 Cakes & Treats – 11&12 Concerns & Complaints – 45 Pupil Attendance & Absence – 12 Insurance – 46 Communicable Diseases, Head Lice & Asthma – 14 Emergency Closures/Adverse Weather - 15 Parking – 18 Section 4 – School Improvement & Data School Transport - 18 Protection School Improvement, Standards & Quality & Improvement Planning – 47 Transferring Educational Data –48 Section 2 – Curriculum & Assessment Data Protection – 49 School Ethos/Aims/Values – 20 Parental Access to Records - 50 Positive Behaviour Management – 21 Bullying & Exclusion –22 Curriculum – 23 Policies - 24 Assessment & Reporting – 25 & 26 Educational Visits – 26 Section 5 - Annual Updates Learning & Teaching - 27 School Clothing Grants & Free School Extra Curricular Activities – 28 Meals – 52 Instrumental Tuition – 28 Staff List & Class Allocations – 53 Sensitive Aspects of the Curriculum – 29 Annual Holiday Calendar - 54 Map of Catchment Area – 54 Plan of the School – 55 Attendance & Absence Figures - 56 - 3 - Section 1 General School Information - 4 - SCHOOL CONTACT DETAILS Head Teacher – Mrs Fiona Eaton Old Rayne School Lawrence Road Old Rayne Insch Aberdeenshire AB52 6RY Tel – 01464 851213 (You can leave a message on this line) Email – [email protected] Website - www.oldrayne.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Information Line Tel – tel 0870 054 4999 (Old Rayne’s pin number is 022370) Adverse weather and emergency closure - www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/closures Please see the emergency closures and adverse weather page for further information Type of School – Old Rayne School is a Primary School Present Roll – 39 pupils For further information about the roll and structure of classes please see coloured section at the back of this book. Denominational Status – Old Rayne School is a non denominational school. The school does not teach by means of the Gaelic Language. All Aberdeenshire Schools are Co-educational, providing education for both boys and girls. Education Office Formartine Education Office Gordon House Manse Road Blackhall Road TURRIFF INVERURIE AB53 4EH Aberdeenshire Tel: 01888 562427 AB51 3WB Tel: 01467 621291 Old Rayne School’s Quality Improvement Officer is Mr Gordon Lennon who is based at Gordon House Contact details for Director of Education, Learning and Leisure Mrs Maria Walker Woodhill House Westburn Road Aberdeen AB16 5GB 01224 665420 - 5 - OLD RAYNE SCHOOL BACKGROUND INFORMATION Old Rayne Primary is situated in the small, rural Aberdeenshire village of Old Rayne, eight miles east of the town of Inverurie. The catchment area includes the village and surrounding hinterland. Old Rayne is within easy commuting distance of the city of Aberdeen. The school celebrated its centenary in 1980 and continues to be a focal point within the community. Within the village of Old Rayne there is a well utilised village hall, hairdressers, a large play park and a football field. In Pitmachie, adJoining the village is a car garage and a camping and caravanning site. Two miles out of the village is Kirkton of Rayne Church. Almost all primary one pupils starting at the school have had playgroup experience at Old Rayne Playgroup or they have accessed pre school nursery at Rothienorman School. Old Rayne School provides primary education for children aged 4 – 12, we have two classes – Primary 1-3 and Primary 4-7. The building comprises two large classrooms; a small multi- purpose hall with adJoining servery; a staff/admin office, and a resource room/head teacher’s office. A tarmac playground surrounds the building with a school garden to one side and play equipment to the other. The local St Lawrence Hall is used for P.E. lessons and school concerts. In fine weather, the local authority park opposite the school is used as an additional play area when staff to pupil ratios permit. Teaching staff comprises of Full time Head teacher - Mrs Fiona Eaton (who is class committed approximately three days per week) Full time Class teacher - Mrs Liz Fallen Part time Class Teacher – Mrs Esther Bissett. A Learning Support Teacher – Mrs Adrienne Murray (assists one morning per week) The school is allocated Visiting Specialists in P.E., Drama, Art, ICT, Music and French (usually several sessions per year and delivered of each subJect) Teaching staff are supported by Two Pupil Supports Assistants - Mrs Karen Bayley and Mrs Maree Ann Lawson Administrative assistant – Mrs Caroline Lamb Part-time clerical assistant –Mrs Maree Ann Lawson Catering assistants – Mrs Doreen Keith and Mrs Kathleen Simpson Cleaner - Gordon Duncan Part time Janitor – The school also works closely with a range of other support agencies and volunteers in order to provide the best possible experience for children with additional support needs. Our Active Schools Coordinator provides a range of additional active and sporting activities for the children. Community links are a valued part of school life. The Head Teacher is invited to attend Community Association meetings as well as Village Hall Committee meetings. The school has a very supportive Parent Council. These groups support school improvement activities and raise additional funds to provide many extras for the pupils in the school. - 6 - Old Rayne Primary regularly participates in activities with other local schools. These include, for example, Joint discos, technology challenges, sports matches as well as staff meetings. On leaving Old Rayne Primary at the end of primary seven, pupils transfer to Meldrum Academy (opened August 2002) in the town of Old Meldrum some ten miles away. Meldrum is a Community School and aims to provide a common and partnership approach to all families within its catchment area of twelve primary schools. Regular LEaRN - Local Education and Recreation Network - meetings are held with representatives from all the schools, Community Education, Library and other services. Devolved budgets are managed in accordance with authority guidelines in order to support planned improvements in the school. The school was inspected eight years ago in October 2004. For further information about classes and teachers please see the coloured section at the back of this handbook. At Old Rayne School we are keen to provide our pupils with an understanding of global issues. We work with global foundations and organisations that provide us with criteria and goals to work on. The process is the important part but the award at the end is a great pat on the back for all pupils, staff, parents and the community. Green Flags We have been following the criteria set by Eco Schools Scotland since 2005. We have achieved 4 green flags during this time (we were actually the first school in the whole of Aberdeenshire to achieve the 4 th flag!) Fairtrade Status We are officially a Fairtrade School. We achieved status in June 2011 and we are now working on maintaining that status. Rights and Responsibilities We are currently working through the level two stage of the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools award following accreditation of level one in May 2012 - 7 - VISITS OF PROSPECTIVE PARENTS Prospective parents can contact the School Office and request an appointment to come and visit the school and meet with the Head Teacher. During this visit you will get a tour of the school and have an opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any particular needs for your child(ren).