Dunecht Primary School Dunecht School Handbook Session 2014/15 This document is available in alternative formats (Please contact the Head Teacher) - 1 - Dunecht Primary School Our garden Dear Parent, Welcome to Dunecht Primary School We sincerely hope that your family will be happy at Dunecht Primary School and that your involvement with the school and wider community will be both enjoyable and rewarding. This booklet has been produced in order to provide information which will prove useful now and throughout your child’s time at Dunecht School. We see education as a shared experience and parents play a very important part in the life and work of the school. We look forward to working closely with you in order to achieve the best possible education and experience for your child. The information in this booklet is accurate at the date of completion. It is possible that some items may change during the course of the year. Sections of the handbook are updated annually and you may be asked to replace certain pages with new information. Please refer to the school website for regular updates and newsletters throughout the year. Website address: www.dunecht.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Yours sincerely Oliver McMillan Acting Head Teacher This Aberdeenshire Council School Handbook is designed to inform parents of as many aspects of life at Dunecht School as possible, and has been written in response to ‘School Handbook Guidance (Scotland) Regulations 2012.’ We hope you find our handbook clear and informative. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions for improvements. 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. - 2 - Dunecht Primary School CONTENTS PAGE Section 1 – General School Information Contact Information – 6 School Background – 7 Visits of Prospective Parents – 9 Admission/Enrolment/School Zone – 9 Organisation of School Day – 10 School Uniform – 10 Pupil Belongings & Valuables – 11 School Equipment – 11 Arrival at School & Playground Information – 11 School Office – 12 School Meals/Snack and Drinks/Cakes & Treats – 12 Pupil Attendance & Absence – 14 Communicable Diseases, Head Lice & Asthma – 15 Emergency Closures/Adverse Weather - 16 Parking – 19 School Transport - 19 Section 2 – Curriculum & Assessment School Vision, Values and Aims – 21 Positive Behaviour Management – 22 Promoting Positive Attitudes and Behaviour Support 22 Exclusion – 23 Curriculum – 23 Policies - 26 Learning & Teaching - 27 Educational Visits – 28 Assessment & Reporting – 29 Pupil Involvement - 31 Additional Curricular Activities – 32 Instrumental Tuition – 32 Sensitive Aspects of the Curriculum – 33 Section 3 – Parental Involvement/Pupil Welfare & Support Parental Involvement & The Parent Council – 38 Communication - 41 Health Care/Dental Inspection & Administration of Medicines - 41 Transitions & Transfer to Secondary School – 43 Child Protection – 45 Support for Pupils & Key Worker – 46 Support for Learners/Additional Support Needs – 47 Educational Psychology Services - 47 Concerns & Complaints – 53 Insurance – 54 - 3 - Dunecht Primary School Section 4 – School Improvement & Data Protection School Improvement, Standards & Quality & Improvement Planning – 57 Transferring Educational Data – 57 Data Protection – 58 Parental Access to Records - 59 Section 5 - Annual Updates School Clothing Grants & Free School Meals – 61 Staff List & Class Allocations – 62 In Service – 64 Annual Holiday Calendar - 64 Map of Catchment Area – 64 Plan of the School - 64 Attendance Figures 65 - 4 - Dunecht Primary School Section 1 General School Information Flowers in the school playground - 5 - Dunecht Primary School SCHOOL CONTACT DETAILS Acting Head Teacher: Oliver McMillan Dunecht School Dunecht Westhill Aberdeenshire AB32 7BA Telephone 01330 860243 Fax 01330 860243 E mail [email protected] Website dunecht.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/ Information Line 0870 054 4999 (School pin no: 021610) (Please do not use this line to leave messages for the school.) Rural Rascals: (out of school care club) 07842 638746 Parent Council Chair: John Carter e-mail: [email protected] Adverse weather and emergency closure - www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/closures Please see page 16 for further information regarding adverse weather and emergency closures. Dunecht School is a Primary school providing education for P1 – P7 pupils. Present roll: 47. Nursery provision is available at Echt School and there are various pre-school groups operating in the area. Dunecht School is a non denominational school and does not teach by means of the Gaelic Language. All Aberdeenshire schools are co-educational, providing education for both boys and girls. Key contact details for Dunecht School Stonehaven Education Quality Improvement Director of Education, Office Officer Learning and Leisure Queen’s Road Ms Sheila Marr Mrs Maria Walker Stonehaven Woodhill House Woodhill House AB39 2QQ Westburn Road Westburn Road Tel: 01569 766960 Aberdeen AB16 5GB Aberdeen AB16 5GB Tel: 01224 664366 Tel: 01224 665420 - 6 - Dunecht Primary School Dunecht School Background Information Dunecht School is in the village of Dunecht, which is situated on the A944, between Alford and Aberdeen. The main village has a garage, shop and post office and a popular restaurant and is an easy commute from Westhill or Inverurie. Dunecht Estates have their main offices and workshops in the village and the beautiful Dunecht Estates grounds are often used for walking and exploring by school pupils and local residents. The Estate has a golf course, pony club, cricket field and an abundance of wildlife and nature to enjoy. Dunecht has a well-utilised village hall and a play park and recreational football pitch behind the village Terrace. Pupils come from the villages of Dunecht and Lyne of Skene and from the surrounding rural area. Community links are a valued part of school life. There is a strong sense of community in Dunecht, evident in the various associations, clubs and community groups in the area. Dunecht School provides education for children in P1-7. Nursery provision is provided at nearby Echt school or at other local pre-school groups and private nursery facilities. The school is co-educational and non-denominational. On leaving Dunecht School, most pupils transfer to Alford Academy. Dunecht School is part of the Alford Children’s Services Network and works closely with the other schools in the network. The original school building was constructed in 1928 and modernised in 1968. An extension was completed in the spring of 2007, adding a general office, Head teacher’s Office, staff room and fourth classroom. The school also has a kitchen and a General Purpose (GP) room which is used for classes in PE, drama, music and other learning opportunities which require a larger working space. The GP room is also used for assemblies, school lunches, additional curricular activities and the Rural Rascals out of school club. The school has a tarred play area at the front featuring colourful playground games, planting and furniture. This area is generally used as a quiet activity zone. There is also a large tarred playground at the rear with beautifully decorated shelters and a playing area for team games and sports. Various items of play equipment are available to enhance playtimes and pupils also have access to the garden area which features a willow structure, seating, bird feeding stations and a herb garden. Pupils, staff and parents work together to develop and maintain the outside space at Dunecht School and the playground and local environment are used regularly to enhance learning and teaching. Pupils can also access the large playing field in the village which is just a short walk from the school. - 7 - Dunecht Primary School A separate car park is available for use by staff. There is also off road parking available adjacent to the west wall of the school for school buses, staff and parents’ cars. The school’s current roll is 47. Classes are composite and split as follows (2013/14) although this may vary according to pupil numbers in any particular year group: P1/2 : 16 pupils P3/4 : 18 pupils P5/6/7 : 13 pupils Dunecht School has 2 full time members of teaching staff and the head teacher works closely with the part time teacher who teaches during the her management time. Specialist teachers help with the delivery of ICT, Music, Modern Languages and Physical Education. Our Active Schools Coordinator provides a range of additional active and sporting activities for the children and we benefit from a wide range of visitors sharing skills in science, dance and art. We also have a visiting specialist who provides support for learners. The school 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 Teaching staff are well supported by the school administrator and receptionist/clerical assistant, 2 pupil support assistants, 2 catering staff, a cleaner and a part time janitor. HMIe last inspected the school in November 2011. The school received a very positive report with many aspects of our work highly commended. Dunecht School is a Fairtrade School and holds a Green Flag Award from Eco Schools Scotland. We have also been recognised as a Bird Friendly School. Dunecht Under 5s use the school hall weekly. Children attending the group become