1 From mountain to sea Torphins School Handbook 2017/18 2 |Torphins School Contents Torphins School 1 Introduction to Torphins School 4 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos 7 Curriculum 8 1 1+2 Approach to Language Learning in Aberdeenshire 13 2 Further Information 13 Assessment and Reporting 14 Transitions (Moving On) 15 3 Admissions 15 4 Placing requests & School Zones 15 5 Skills for Learning, Life and Work / Developing Young Workforce 15 Support for Children and Young People 16 6 Getting it Right for Every Child 16 7 The Named Person 16 8 Educational Psychology 17 9 Enhanced Provision & Community Resource Hubs 17 10 Support for Learning 18 11 The Child’s Plan 18 12 Child Protection 19 13 Further Information on Support for Children and Young People 19 Parent & Carer Involvement 20 14 Our Parent Forum & Working with you as partners 20 15 Communication. 20 16 Parenting 21 17 Volunteering 21 18 Learning at Home 21 19 Decision-making and Developing Services 21 20 Collaborating with the Community 21 Useful Information and School Policies 22 21 Attendance 24 22 Holidays during term time. 25 23 Torphins School Dress Code 25 24 Clothing Grants 26 25 Transport 26 26 Early Years Transport 26 27 Privilege Transport 27 28 Special Schools and Enhanced Provision 27 29 School Closure & Other Emergencies 27 30 Storm Addresses 28 31 Change of address and Parental Contact Details 29 32 School Meals 29 33 Healthcare & Medical 30 34 Bullying and Exclusion 31 35 Educational Visits 32 36 Instrumental Tuition 32 37 Comments, Compliment & Complaints 33 38 Support for parents/carers 33 39 Insurance 34 40 School Off Site Excursion Insurance 34 41 Data we hold and what we do with it. 35 42 How Does Aberdeenshire Council Hold and Store Pupil Data 35 43 Parental Access to Records 35 44 ScotXed 36 45 Information Sharing 36 46 Freedom of Information 36 Appendix 37 School Improvement Plan – available on school website 37 Map of catchment area 37 4 |Introduction to Torphins School Introduction to Torphins School School Contact Details Elaine M Ross, Head Teacher Torphins School 2 Beltie Road Torphins Aberdeenshire AB31 4JT Tel : 013398 82269 Email: [email protected] Website : www.torphins.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Torphins School is a non-denominational school with a roll of: Nursery 20 Primary 168 Dear Parents/Carers Welcome to Torphins Primary School. The staff at Torphins look forward to a long and happy partnership with you and your child that will be productive and enjoyable. We take pride in the fact that this is a happy school with a real sense of team spirit. We hope that your child enjoys their time at Torphins School. In Torphins we like to work in partnership with parents. The education of a child is far too important to be left to a school alone. Parents/carers 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. Aberdeenshire Council School Handbooks are designed to inform parents of as many aspects of life at school as possible. The Torphins School Handbook has been written in accordance with ‘School Handbook Guidance (Scotland) Regulations 2012.’ This handbook will be updated annually and you may wish to refer to our website or contact us for the most current annual information. We hope you find our handbook clear and informative. Yours sincerely Elaine M Ross 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. Introduction to Torphins School | 5 Background Information The Village of Torphins is settled in an attractive rural location 25 miles west of Aberdeen. Within the village there is a small supermarket with a post office, a hairdresser, a chemist, a café, a vet, a garage, a well-utilised village hall, a hotel and a medical practice. A picturesque church and a park complete the picture. The catchment area is the village of Torphins and the surrounding rural area. This is shown on the catchment zone map at the end of this Handbook. Torphins Primary School provides education for children from ante-preschool nursery – Primary 7. The School has 7 classes and a Nursery. The Head Teacher is non class committed. Over the school year we currently have a two specialist teachers who help with the delivery of French and Science. We also have 1 visiting Support for Learning Teacher. 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 opportunities for the children. The staff compliment is further enhanced with 1 Early Years Lead Practitioner, 3 Early Years Practitioners, 5 Pupil Support Assistants, an Administrator, a Support Assistant, 4 kitchen staff, 2 cleaners and janitorial staff. On leaving Torphins Primary School the pupils transfer to Aboyne Academy. Torphins School is part of the Aboyne Schools’ Network and works closely with the other 9 primary schools and the academy. The schools in our network are Aboyne Academy Crathie Primary Lumphanan Primary Aboyne Primary Finzean Primary Tarland Primary Ballater Primary Kincardine O’ Neil Primary Braemar Primary Logie Coldstone Primary Community links are a valued part of school life. The school is used for a range of community activities, including after school sports and activity clubs. The school has a very supportive Torphins School Parent Council (TSPC). This group supports school improvement activities and raises additional funds to provide many extras for the pupils in the school. Devolved budgets are managed in accordance with authority guidelines in order to support planned improvements in the school. HMIe last inspected the school in 2008. 6 |Introduction to Torphins School Staff List Head Teacher Mrs E Ross Depute Head Teacher Mrs J Stapleton Class Teachers Miss D Reid Mrs K Steel Mrs S Sargent Mrs G Chalmers/Mrs S Hanley Mrs L Nash Mrs E Murdo Pupil Support Assistants Mrs M Adamson Mrs L Carss Mrs G Scotchman Mrs L Ingram Mrs L Hunter Early Years Lead Practitioner Mrs J Henry Early Years Practitioners Mrs F Cameron Ms J Watson Mrs C Esslemont Support for Learning Teaching Staff Mrs J Thomson Violin Instructor Ms S Hassan Brass Instructor Mr H Wood Science Mrs L Hayward French Mr R MacKay Administrator Mrs S Guy Catering Staff Mrs R Alexander Mrs A McGregor Miss P Garden Mrs A Ewen Janitors Mr K Mullen Mr B Algeo Mr L Smith Mr R Thompsett Our Vision, Values and School Ethos | 7 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos Everyone has the right to learn in an environment which is safe, motivating and inclusive. The pupils, staff and Torphins community work as a team for the benefit of all. We respect each other in the way we work and the way we behave. We are proud of our school. Success is celebrated and effort rewarded. We all try to do our best in everything we do. We support each other and value everyone. Any concerns we may have are acted upon. Our school makes learning meaningful, appropriate to individual needs and fun. 8 |Curriculum Curriculum Within Torphins 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. Therefore we will 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 also 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. Curriculum for Excellence is structured into different levels. Early The pre-school years and P1, or later for some. First To the end of P4, but earlier or later for some. Second To the end of P7, but earlier or later for some. Third and S1 to S3, but earlier for some. Fourth The fourth level broadly equates to Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 4. The fourth level experiences and outcomes are intended to provide possibilities for choice and young people’s programmes will not include all of the fourth level outcomes. Senior S4 to S6, and college or other means of study. phase Curriculum | 9 The Development of Pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Values In our school we are committed to providing appropriate opportunities for the development of pupils’ awareness of spiritual, moral, social and cultural values through both the ethos and the curriculum.