Stracathro Primary School Handbook

This document is available in alternative formats, on request (Please contact the Head Teacher) CONTENTS • Angus Council Information: o Contact Details:

Angus Council People Directorate Angus House Orchardbank Business Park FORFAR DD8 1AN Tel: 01307 476337 Fax: 01307 461848 Email: [email protected]

o Early Learning and Childcare Provision (primary schools only) o School Clothing Grants o Education Maintenance Allowance (secondary schools only) o Pupil Absence Procedures (Attendance and Absence) o The Complaints Procedure o Parental Involvement / Parent Councils o Curriculum for Excellence . Curriculum Levels . The Senior Phase . Skills for Learning, Life and Work . Careers Guidance and Financial Advice o Sex Education o Drugs Education (Drugs and alcohol misuse) o Religious and Moral Education o Assessment and Reporting o Transitions . Starting Nursery . Enrolling in Primary School . Transfer to Secondary School . Leaving School . Post School o Support for Pupils o GIRFEC (getting it right for every child) o Gaelic Education o School Meals . Special Dietary Requirements . Snack Provision in Nursery o Applying for Free School Meals o Administration of Medicines o Transport o Insurance o Music Services o Parental Access to Records o Child Protection o Holding and Storing Pupil and Staff Data o Emergency Closures & Transport Updates o School Holiday Dates o Useful Links & Contact Details

CONTENTS (cont)

• School Information: o Contact Details o Visits of Prospective Parents o School Uniform o Parental Concerns o The Complaints Procedure o Parental Involvement o School Ethos o School and Community Links o Positive Behaviour Management o Celebrating Achievement o Extra-curricular Activities o Pupil Council o Learning Opportunities o The Pupils and Parents Voice o The Curriculum at School, Local and National level o Liaison with Secondary School o School Improvement o Main achievements o Improving Standards o School Improvement Plan o Health Care o Useful Links & Contact Details

CONTACT DETAILS

Stracathro Primary School Inchbare Brechin Angus DD9 7QE

Telephone: 01356 648334

Email Address: [email protected] Head Teacher: Mrs Sheena Farquhar

Class Stages: Nursery 3 Primary 4 2 Primary 1 4 Primary 5 1 Primary 2 3 Primary 6 2 Primary 3 2 Primary 7 2

Present Roll: 19

Organisation of the school day: 8.45am – 11.55am Nursery Session

9.00am – 3.20pm School Session 10.30am – 10.50am Morning Interval 12.30pm – 1.30pm Lunch 2.30pm – 2.50pm Afternoon Interval – P1/2 only

VISITS OF PROSPECTIVE PARENTS – see link below: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/10093528/0

Parents wishing to enrol their children as entrants to Primary 1 should contact the school before the end of January. Information regarding enrolment appears in the local press. When enrolling, please ensure you bring your child’s birth certificate and two forms of proof of address. If your child is starting in August, he / she will be invited in on a number of occasions during the summer term to join in class activities. You will also be invited to school to meet your child’s teacher and find out general information which will be helpful as you prepare for your child starting Primary 1.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Printed sweatshirts and polo shirts are ordered through the school office.

Boys Girls Nursery Grey trousers Grey skirt/trousers Play clothes White polo shirt White polo shirt Purple printed polo shirt Green printed sweatshirt Green printed sweatshirt Purple printed sweatshirt. *Indoor gym shoes *Indoor gym shoes Indoor shoes/slippers

Special Clothing P1-7

For ART/CRAFT: A painting overall or a large old shirt.

For PE: Shorts, T-shirt, socks and indoor gym shoes. Warm jogging bottoms/leggings & top and outdoor gym shoes. These should be named and in a draw-string bag suitable for hanging on a peg.

Jewellery Pupils are discouraged from wearing jewellery of any sort, especially earrings, which must not be worn for gym.

*The children can wear their indoor gym shoes to change into when they are in class; they do not need separate shoes for this.

All clothing brought to school should be named or marked in some way, as it is difficult for children to distinguish their own clothing from others.

A school bag should be provided, large enough to take a homework pack, PE kit and lunch box.

PARENTAL CONCERNS

Parents should contact the school immediately they have a cause for concern. It is our wish to deal with all matters as early as possible preventing them from growing into significant concerns. Please contact your child’s class teacher in the first instance or if you would prefer to discuss the issue with the Head Teacher, please do not hesitate to make an appointment to see Mrs Farquhar.

As Mrs Farquhar has responsibility for both Edzell and Stracathro Primary Schools, she may not always be immediately available; however a meeting will be arranged at the earliest possible opportunity.

The staff will listen to your concern and agree a way forward with you. They will follow-up the initial conversation with a telephone call approximately one week later to ensure all matters have been resolved satisfactorily.

THE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE – also see link below: https://www.angus.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/complaints_and_comments/making_a_comp laint_or_comment_about_our_services

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT BECOMING INVOLVED IN SCHOOL

There are many ways that parents and carers can get involved in school life. Parents are welcomed into school to help in a variety of different ways. These include:

• helping in the nursery class

• making school resources

• helping with activities at the maths and language clubs

• sharing knowledge and expertise on some aspect of the curriculum

• reading stories to groups of children

• assisting in the school library

• supporting extra-curricular activities e.g. sports clubs, eco group

• maintaining school garden

• accompanying children on school outings

• parent council

We welcome any other suggestion you may have for activities that you think would be beneficial to the school that you can help out with!

If you wish to be a regular parent helper, PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) checks have to be completed. Please discuss this with staff.

For any information on the scheme or any other aspect of helping out in school, please do not hesitate to call in and ask.

Parental involvement is not just about coming in and helping out in school. We welcome your involvement in the day to day aspects of your child’s education. Through the partnership we build between home and school, we can all help encourage our children to achieve their potential.

At Stracathro primary school we provide a number of ways in which you can be involved in building a partnership between home and school.

The table below gives an overview of the opportunities that you will have throughout the school year to gather information about what your child is working on in school and to support your child’s learning at home:

Partnership Opportunity Timing during school year

Parent Information Evening September

An open event to meet informally with the class teacher and visit the classroom to see examples of the type of work and activities that will be on-going throughout the school year

Term Overview Sheets Termly

Issued early each term to give a summary of what your child will be working on in the term ahead so you can support the learning at home

Learning Folios November, February and May

An opportunity for your child to share (sent home three times during the some of the work completed in school year) school. You are encouraged to comment and give your feedback.

Homework Daily / Weekly

Work given to support the learning in (as appropriate to the age of your the classroom. child)

Parent Interviews November, February and May

10 minute appointments will be given three times a year to discuss your child’s progress with the class teacher

School Reports November, February and May

A summary of the progress made over the course of a term

Curriculum Information Evenings Annually

A chance to find out more about how, what and when the curriculum is taught in school

Concerns An appointment should be made at the earliest opportunity Any issue, no matter how small, that you feel you would like to discuss with the class teacher or head teacher

SCHOOL ETHOS

At Stracathro Primary we take great pride in the caring, friendly ethos of our school. All members of our school community treat each other with respect and are encouraged to value each person as an individual. The pupils are paired in a buddying system which reinforces the need for everyone to look out for others and to ensure all feel safe and happy at school.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LINKS

Parents are encouraged to assist the school in any way they feel they are able. They are particularly welcome to help in the school for example in art, craft or musical activities and at sporting or social events like concerts, parties and visits. Many local families with no continuing school connections still support Stracathro ventures with their presence at functions. Stracathro School has close links with the surrounding community and helps out with fund raising for the local hall and various local charities. It is hoped that the links between the school and the community will continue to grow steadily.

Children develop skills and learn to be better citizens as they engage with and support the work of the local community. The pupils frequently participate in competitions run by local organisations and are regular visitors at Stracathro Hospital where they entertain patients with a variety of different performances. The children attend sports festivals and competitions with other children from neighbouring primary schools.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT https://www.angus.gov.uk/schools_and_young_people/parent_and_pupil_guidance/anti_bullying_ policy

Good behaviour is essential to good learning. The general aim of the school is to provide an atmosphere of mutual respect and collective responsibility. Pupils, parents and staff all have an important part to play in producing and sustaining this positive ethos. The rules of the school are of a common sense nature, bearing in mind the interest and safety of all concerned. High expectations of pupil behaviour are reinforced through the use of our ‘Golden Rules’:

• We are polite • We are kind and helpful • We share and are not selfish • We care and respect other people • We look after property

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

Pupil achievement, in and out of the school setting, is recognised and celebrated. In school, positive behaviour and hard work are rewarded by adding stickers on a card. Once complete, a certificate is presented by the head teacher at assembly and pupils are encouraged to take their card home to share their success with parents. Achievements are further recognised on wall displays as you enter the school building. Here you will see a picture of our Pupil of the Week – an award given weekly to pupils in recognition of effort and hard work.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Although Stracathro is a small school, we are still able to offer a range of after school activities as we work closely with Edzell Primary which is located only three miles away. This allows our pupils to get involved in a number of team sports with children of a similar age. We have a very committed Active Schools Co-ordinator, Katy Gordon, who creates many opportunities for our pupils to get active in and out of school hours. Clubs vary from year to year depending on the availability of coaches and teachers and the interests of our pupils. Below is a list of some of the after school activities that have been on offer in recent years;

• Drama club • Lego club

• basketball • pupil council

• athletics • recorder group

• cross country • choir

• football – junior and senior • loom band club

If you have an interest, skill or talent that you feel you can share, why not contact the school and offer to help to organise a new club. We are always open to new ideas and the children would love it! Depending on the activity, the club could take place at Edzell or Stracathro.

PUPIL COUNCIL

(Written by members of present Pupil Council)

The Pupil Council is a group of children from all stages in the school who meet from time to time with the Head Teacher to discuss different school matters. Members of the council find out what the children in the school would like to happen in school and discuss this with Mrs Farquhar.

We have worked with Mrs Farquhar to plan school outings and special events. We also agreed which charity events we would like to support and have organised different fundraising events throughout the year.

We also suggested that there should be some kind of award for good behaviour in the playground and for trying hard in class. We now have a weekly ‘Pupil of the Week’ award. The person receiving the award gets a certificate from Mrs Farquhar and their photograph is displayed on the Achievement Wall.

We help Mrs Farquhar to think about ways to make our school even better and then work together to make it happen. We look forward to another busy year ahead as we help Mrs Farquhar run the school.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Your child will learn:

• in a variety of different contexts and groups including ability, co-operative and social • to work as individuals • in groups and as part of the whole class • with other schools and in different settings.

THE PUPILS AND PARENTS VOICE

Pupils will have the opportunity to discuss with their teacher the context in which they learn and how they will approach the learning. Staff will discuss new learning with the children and plan together the areas of specific focus. Parents will be invited to share comments regarding the planned work for their child at various points throughout the year and are encouraged to give feedback at any time through their child’s homework diary.

THE CURRICULUM AT SCHOOL, LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL

One of the best ways to find out more about the curriculum is by attending the Information Evening held annually in September. At this event you will have the opportunity to speak to the teacher about the curriculum your child will experience in the year ahead, view resources and find out more about the different approaches used to help your child to be actively involved in their own learning. Other curricular information evenings may be held throughout the school year. More local and national information can be accessed from the numerous sources listed in the back of the Angus Council Information section of this handbook.

LIAISON WITH SECONDARY SCHOOL

Moving from a small rural school to the larger secondary setting can seem a very big step for some pupils. However we work very closely with Brechin High School to make this move as smooth as possible. In recent years, a number of procedures have been put in place which helps to build pupil confidence during their final year in primary school.

For all pupils:

• Pupils from across the cluster attend a themed day in October; past themes have included Fairtrade, Enterprise and Science. This is a good chance to meet and work with pupils from other schools. • Pupils have a series of visits to BHS in the spring term accompanied by their P7 teachers. The pupils have the opportunity to take part in lessons planned in a number of different departments. Again, the children will work with pupils from the other cluster primary schools. • P7 teachers pass on information to Brechin High School staff about each pupil, taking account of academic progress, personal achievements, outside hobbies and interests, attitude to work, friendship groups and any other information which will help staff prepare for the pupils as they begin life at secondary school. • During the summer term, Pupil Care and Support staff visit our pupils to let them know which classes they will be in. They also bring first year pupils along so they can share

their experience of moving to high school and help to reassure pupils that many tales that are often talked about are not true at all! • In June, pupils spend three days at Brechin High School where they follow their first year timetable. Primary teachers do not accompany them on this visit. • At the end of June, P7 profiles and folios are sent up to Brechin High.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS 2017/2018

• During our annual health week, the children enjoyed many interesting presentations and activities which encouraged them to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Our partner agencies supported this work. • Children from across all stages participated in the annual Burns competition by learning and reciting a Scottish poem. This year the pupils achieved a very high standard. • Music continues to be one of the strengths of the school. All pupils learn to read music and play the recorder with many opportunities to perform in school events. Pupils in Primary 4 and above have the opportunity to have string or brass lessons with the visiting specialists who come to the school each week. • Pupils have planned different events to support chosen charities. These have included Poppy Scotland, Children in Need, Comic Relief and Brain Tumour Research. • Sporting activities continued to have high profile in the school this session. Children continue to run a mile several times each week and have participated in a number of different sports events with other schools in the area. • The whole school together with Edzell School produced the show Olivia in the Community Campus Theatre in Brechin High School.

IMPROVING STANDARDS

During the last session the following areas were identified as key strengths in the school:

• Learners engage positively in one to one learning conversations with their teacher which are timetabled throughout the school year. • In a recent pupil survey, 95% of learners expressed that they found it helpful to have the opportunity to discuss their learning with the class teacher and that these discussions were helping them to set their own targets for future learning. • Teaching staff participated in a series of workshops with cluster primary colleagues to review assessment principles. • Learning walk weeks were introduced this session to allow staff the opportunity to visit other classes in a less formal way. These visits led to professional discussions about standards and supported the moderation process between the schools. • Early level staff meet together on a regular basis to discuss a range of areas including tracking, transition and teaching strategies. Staff report that this supports improved understanding and shared expectations at nursery and Primary 1. • A transition literacy group consisting of all Primary 7 teachers and staff from Brechin High languages department have worked together to further develop moderation at second and third level. • A change in the reporting process has enabled parents to get more timely updates on the progress their children are making throughout the session. 96% of parents have expressed that this new system keeps them better informed. • New planning formats used by all teaching staff ensure that planning is accurately recorded taking account of the experiences and outcomes.

• Pupils’ progress is regularly tracked and monitored throughout the session and interventions planned as and when required. • Assessment data is used well to plan future learning. Almost all learners are achieving or on track to achieve the expected levels in maths and literacy across all stages.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Priorities for inclusion in the 2018/2019 Improvement Plan

• Pupil learning conversations will be further developed to support learners to gain an understanding of the benchmarks to aid them in planning next steps in their learning. • The school community will work together to create a shared definition of what challenge looks like / feels like and will plan how to increase challenge in learning. • Work will continue to develop the use of quality feedback which supports learners to progress in all curricular areas. • Further opportunities will be timetabled throughout next session to enable staff to build on the moderation work started this year across the school and cluster. • Outdoor learning will be fully embedded as the main approach to learning in the early years. • Transition at key stages will continue to be developed. The Early Level group will continue to meet as they make changes to pedagogy to ensure transition builds on and further develops the experiences of the early years. • Primary and secondary colleagues will form a cluster working group which will further develop moderation with a focus on STEM subjects. • A cluster approach to training in aspects of health and wellbeing will help to ensure all children’s wellbeing needs are identified and supported. • The wellbeing indicators will be used to support the self-evaluation processes used by the school.

HEALTH CARE

You can contact your school health staff at: - Brechin Health Centre, Brechin. Tel: 01356 624411 [or through school].

School Nurse Tracy Sturrock: 01356 666035

USEFUL LINKS & CONTACT DETAILS

Education Scotland’s Communication Toolkit for engaging with parents – https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Documents/Parental%20involvement/PAR2_Eng agingParentsandFamiliesToolkit/par2-engaging-parents-toolkit-section3-060416.pdf

The Scottish Government guide Principles of Inclusive Communications provides information on communications and a self-assessment tool for public authorities – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/14082209/0

Choosing a School: A Guide for Parents - information on choosing a school and the placing request system – http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/10093528/0

A guide for parents about school attendance explains parental responsibilities with regard to children’s attendance at school – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/04134640/0

Parental Involvement

Guidance on the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 provides guidance on the act for education authorities, Parent Councils and others – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/09/08094112/0

Parentzone provide information and resource for parents and Parent Councils – https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/

School Ethos

Supporting Learners - guidance on the identification, planning and provision of support – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/Support%20for%20all

Health and wellbeing guidance on healthy living for local authorities and schools - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi

Building Curriculum for Excellence Through Positive Behaviour and Relationships outlines the Scottish Government’s priority actions around positive behaviour in schools and is also a source of support – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/25112828/0

Scottish Catholic Education Service’s resource ‘This is Our Faith’ which supports the teaching and learning of Catholic religious education – http://www.sces.uk.com/this-is-our-faith.html

Curriculum

Information about how the curriculum is structured and curriculum planning – https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/learning-in-scotland

Information about the outcomes a learner can expect to experience and achieve across literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing, as well as the 8 curricular areas – https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/learning-in-scotland/About%20the%203- 18%20curriculum

Advice, practice and resources to support the experiences and outcomes on literary, numeracy and health and wellbeing – https://www.education.gov.scot/Documents/btc3.pdf

Broad General Education in the Secondary School – A Guide for Parents and Carers – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/Broad%20general%20education

Information on the Senior Phase – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/senior-phase-and- beyond/Senior%20phase

Information around the Scottish Government’s ‘Opportunities for All’ programme – https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/partnerships/16plus-data-hub/

Information for organisations responsible for the planning, management and delivery of career information, advice and guidance services – https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/our-products/career- management-skills/

The Skills Development Scotland website ‘My World of Work’ offers a number of tools to support career planning – http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/

Assessment and Reporting

Building the Curriculum 5: a framework for assessment provides guidance around the assessment framework – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/policy-for-scottish- education/policy-drivers/cfe-(building-from-the-statement-appendix-incl-btc1- 5)/Building%20the%20Curriculum

Information about Curriculum for Excellence levels and how progress is assessed – https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/learning-in-scotland/assessment-and- achievement/What%20is%20assessment,%20and%20when%20and%20how%20does%20it% 20take%20place?

Curriculum for Excellence – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/policy-for-scottish- education/policy-drivers/cfe-(building-from-the-statement-appendix-incl-btc1-5)

Transitions

Curriculum for Excellence factfile - 3-18 Transitions - provides information on the transitions children and young people will face throughout their education and beyond – https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/additional- support/how%20schools%20plan%20support/Planning%20for%20transitions

Developing creativity, employability and skills - https://education.gov.scot/what-we-do/Developing%20employability%20and%20skills

Choices and changes provides information about choices made at various stages of learning – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/policy-for-scottish- education/policy-drivers/cfe-%28building-from-the-statement-appendix-incl-btc1- 5%29/Experiences%20and%20outcomes

The Additional support for learning page provides links to relevant legislation and guidance, including the arrangements that should be in place to support pupils with additional support needs – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/welfare/ASL

Supporting Children's Learning Code of Practice includes specific requirements on education authorities and others under the new legislation in relation to transition – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/04/04090720/21

Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning – http://enquire.org.uk/

Parenting across Scotland offers support to children and families in Scotland – http://www.parentingacrossscotland.org/

Support for Pupils

Information about the universal entitlement to support that underpins Curriculum for Excellence – https://education.gov.scot/scottish-education-system/Support%20for%20all

Supporting Children's Learning Code of Practice (Revised edition) - provides Statutory guidance relating to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 as amended – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/04/04090720/21

Getting It Right For Every Child and Young Person, is essential reading for anyone involved or working with children and young people, including practitioners working in adult services with parents and carers – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/gettingitright

School Improvement

Scottish Schools Online - provides a range of school information, including contact details, school roll, facilities, website, and inspection reports – https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/find-a-school

The Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN) is an annual sample survey which will monitor national performance in literacy and numeracy – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/SSLN

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) – http://www.scqf.org.uk/

Scottish Qualifications Authority provides information for teachers, parents, employers and young people on qualifications – http://www.sqa.org.uk/

Amazing Things - information about youth awards in Scotland – http://www.awardsnetwork.org/index.php

Information on how to access statistics relating to School Education – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education

School Policies and Practical Information

Schools and local authorities should consider the most relevant school, local and national policies and include details or links for parents to sources of further information.

National policies, information and guidance can be accessed through the following sites - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People

Children (Scotland) Act 1995 – http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/36/contents

Standards in Scotland's Schools (Scotland) Act 2000 – http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2000/6/contents