Swinton Primary School Coldstream Road Swinton Duns Berwickshire TD14 3JE
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SSWWIINNTTOONN PPRRIIMMAARRYY SSCCHHOOOOLL HANDBOOK 2016-2017 Headteacher: Mrs. J Waite Principal Teacher: Miss. S Robertson School Address: Swinton Primary School Coldstream Road Swinton Duns Berwickshire TD14 3JE Tel: 01890 860 237 Fax: 01890 860 685 Website: http://swintonprimary.school Service Director Children and Young People Donna Manson Council Headquarters Newtown St Boswells Melrose TD6 0SA Tel: 01835 824000 2 THE STAFF Head Teacher: Mrs J Waite Principal Teacher: Miss S Robertson Class Teacher: Ms M Shultz Class Teacher: Mrs J O’Mara Class Teacher: Mrs C Smith VISITING SUPPORT STAFF Physical Education: Mrs V Royan Management cover: Mrs N Evans Music: Mrs D Mutch Learning Support: Mrs A Taylor NON-TEACHING STAFF School Administrator: Mrs A McIntosh Classroom Assistant: Mrs C Cairns Additional Needs Assistant: Mrs W Carter Playground Supervisor: Mrs C Cairns Cleaning Staff: Mrs J Howie School Meals Assistant: Mr D McInnes Visiting Janitor: Mr A Chisholm 3 WELCOME TO SWINTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Our staff would like to extend a warm welcome to you at the start of what we see as a partnership of parents, and others, working with the school to give your child the best possible education. As a small three-teacher school there is a great opportunity for all staff to get to know every pupil. This means that we will endeavour to provide an environment where each child is truly recognised, accepted and valued. We aim to foster an environment where children can reach their full potential in a happy, learning atmosphere, where there is a place for everyone and there is a genuine feeling of belonging. We promote a high, positive, self-esteem in all children and adults, in an environment where all may feel valued, accepted and respected. Since August 2009 Swinton Primary has been a partner school with Greenlaw Primary and the Headteacher leads and manages both schools. This enables the schools to work closely together sharing many experiences but keeping our own identities. The curriculum is challenging and stimulating and is based on high expectations of every individual in the school, building on their skills and achievements and as we begin to implement ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’ we want members of our school community to be: Successful Learners Confident Individuals Effective Contributors Responsible Citizens 4 To achieve this, we promote learning that is active, collaborative, relative and above all enjoyable for our pupils so that Learners will experience a coherent curriculum suited to their needs and achieve the highest standards possible. Swinton Primary School is part of a wider community and we work to ensure everyone in this community works co-operatively and collaboratively to enable the achievement of all. We work particularly closely with our partner school, Greenlaw Primary and all the schools in the Berwickshire Learning Community. On their own, schools cannot address all the barriers to children's learning - a team approach is the key, with integrated provision of services and an integrated response to needs and aspirations. Health Promotion and Behaviour Management are keenly pursued by all teaching staff, health professional workers, social workers, community education workers and non-teaching staff who all play their parts as members of a single team working together to provide the services which individual children need. We believe that children should be nurtured with a healthy attitude towards their own social, mental and physical well-being. Many opportunities and experiences to achieve this are created throughout the academic session, as well as during the holiday periods. Our School ensures that everyone: - children, school staff, parents and other members of the community, work co-operatively and collaboratively to enable the achievement of all. We are here for your children. If you have a concern about your child, or you would like to contribute to the work of school in any small way, please do not hesitate to contact me. Mrs Jayne Waite Headteacher 5 SCHOOL ROLL CURRENT SCHOOL ROLL – 54 pupils Pupils are taught in 3 composite classes – currently: P1/2/3 14 pupils P4/5 17 pupils P6/7 23 pupils ADMISSION TO SCHOOL P1 entrants are currently enrolled in the November of each year. For enrolment, children must reach the age of four on or before 28th or 29th February of the following year. There is an information evening in May for new P1 parents. Transition to P1 is helped by several informal visits. The new children meet their teacher and other children who will be in their class. The children will be allocated buddies form P7. The class teacher will have opportunities to meet/talk to nursery staff. P1 entrants attend school for full days from the beginning of the school session. Parents of children other than those in the new P1 intake who seek a place in school should, in the first instance, contact the Headteacher, so that arrangements can be made to visit the school. Admission forms and information booklets are available from school. 6 Our Vision, values and aims for future years are: At Swinton Primary School our vision is to have people at the very heart of everything we do in school. Everyone in contact with the school will be valued and cared for in a safe, secure and friendly environment. We believe learning is lifelong and will deliver the highest quality teaching and learning experiences for all our learners enabling them to be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. We will work in partnership with all stakeholders to set high expectations and live by them, creating a culture of learning and continuous improvement. Our values guide the way we work. Together we will be enthusiastic, creative and professional and will: Put people first Demonstrate support and respect for our staff Foster inclusion and protection of the environment Be open and accountable by listening and responding to the communities we serve Have high expectations of achievement and attainment Work with partners for the good of the Scottish Borders We aim to: Provide children with the learning opportunities and experiences to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. Provide a rich, stimulating, enjoyable and secure environment for learning. As a school team we will empower, challenge and motivate all our children to learn and think independently. Build up a strong foundation of healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyles choices which encourages a responsible approach to the environment, their physical and mental well-being and self esteem. Create an environment where each member of the school community shows respect for others and is valued as an individual. Build a multi-agency team which works collaboratively within our school, our partner school and within the learning community for the benefit of all stakeholders. Develop the citizens of today for the challenges of the future. 7 SCHOOL DAY AT SWINTON PRIMARY The playground is supervised from 8.40 am. Monday –Thursday: Pupils commence 8.55 am Morning Break 10.45 am to 11.00 am Lunch Break 12.30 pm to 1.15 pm School finish 3.25 pm Friday: Pupils commence 8.55 am Morning Break 10.00 to 10.15am Brunch Break 12.00 to 12.25pm School Finish 12.35pm Collection from School Please inform the school who will normally be collecting your child. If for any reason you need to change these arrangements, please inform the school in advance. ATTENDANCE Pupils are legally required to attend school regularly and punctually. Regular attendance is vital to a child’s progress. If your child is absent please contact the school before 10:00am with an explanation of absence. If this action is not taken the school office will send a Groupcall to parents’ mobile/landline. Groupcall is a service used by most schools in Scottish Borders; the school office sends a text to your mobile/landline to ask you to contact the school. It can also be used to give parents information about things happening in school. The Scottish Executive strongly discourages the practice of children being taken on holiday during term time, thus we are unable to authorise such absence. Please inform the school in writing in advance of children being taken on holiday during term time. 8 CONTINUING EDUCATION A strong aspect of the Berwickshire Learning Community is that there is contact and co-operative working with Berwickshire High School. At the end of Primary 7 pupils would normally transfer to Berwickshire High School, tel. 01361 883710 or visit- www.berwickshirehighschool.org.uk In the terms prior to transfer, Guidance Staff visit to speak to staff and pupils. The P7 teachers send transition cards to the High School prior to the induction days P7 pupils, from all the cluster primary schools are invited to a variety of activities at BHS. Parents are invited to Berwickshire High School in June to learn more about the school and to have a guided tour of the premises. The children also spend two days in high school in June – one day being shown around and having questions answered and one day following a formal timetable. Liaison between Primary School and High School is continually being improved and the outcome can only benefit the child by making his/her transfer as easy and enjoyable as possible. 9 A CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE Curriculum for Excellence Bringing learning to life and life to learning Curriculum for Excellence aims to raise standards, prepare our children for a future they do not yet know and equip them for jobs of tomorrow in a fast changing world. Curriculum for Excellence enables professionals to work together across the school and with other schools, to share best practice and explore learning together.