Marykirk School Handbook 2020/21 2 | Contents Introduction to Marykirk School 4 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos 7 Curriculum 8 Assessment and Reporting 12 Transitions (Moving On) 14 1 Admissions 16 2 Placing requests & School Zones 16 Support for Children and Young People 17 3 Getting it Right for Every Child 17 4 Wellbeing 17 5 Children’s Rights 18 6 The Named Person 19 7 Educational Psychology 20 8 Enhanced Provision & Community Resource Hubs 20 9 Support for Learning 21 10 The Child’s Plan 21 11 Child Protection 22 12 Further Information on Support for Children and Young People 23 Parent & Carer Involvement and Engagement 24 13 Parental Engagement 24 14 Communication 25 15 ParentsPortal.scot 25 16 Learning at Home 26 17 Parent Forum and Parent Council 26 18 Parents and School Improvement 26 19 Volunteering in school 27 20 Collaborating with the Community 27 21 Addressing Concerns & Complaints 27 School Policies and Useful Information 29 22 Attendance 29 23 Holidays during term time. 29 24 Dress Code 30 | 3 25 Clothing Grants 30 26 Transport 30 27 Privilege Transport 30 28 Early Learning & Childcare Transport 31 29 Special Schools and Enhanced Provision 31 30 School Closure & Other Emergencies 32 31 Storm Addresses 33 32 Change of address and Parental Contact Details 33 33 Anti-bullying Guidance 33 34 School Meals 34 35 Healthcare & Medical 36 36 Schools and Childcare – Coronavirus 38 37 Exclusion 38 38 Educational Visits 38 39 Instrumental Tuition 38 40 Public Liability Insurance 39 41 School Off Site Excursion Insurance 39 42 Data we hold and what we do with it. 40 43 The information we collect from you 40 44 Your Data, Your Rights 40 45 Parental Access to Records 41 46 Information Sharing 41 47 ScotXed 41 Further Information 43 4 |Introduction to Marykirk School All information in this handbook is correct as of November 2020 Introduction to Marykirk School Welcome to Marykirk Primary School. As Head Teacher I hope that the partnership between home and school will be productive and enjoyable and that your child settles and enjoys his/her time with us. We take pride in the fact that this is a happy and industrious school with a real sense of team spirit and we value that the education of their child/children is shared with parents, who have a very important role to play. This handbook aims to explain how that partnership develops successfully through help, support and expectations. Early communication from parent or school will help to promote this partnership also. We hope you find our handbook informative. School Contact Details Isla Mann 01674 902 460 Website: Marykirk Primary School www.marykirk.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Kirktonhill Road, Email: Marykirk, Laurencekirk, [email protected] AB30 1UZ Twitter: @MarykirkPS Marykirk Parent Council (MPP) Email: [email protected] Facebook: Marykirkparent&carerscouncil(MPCC) Adverse weather and emergency closure https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Apps/schools-closures/ Information Line 0370 054 4999 [02 2180] (Please do not use this line to leave messages for the school.) Introduction to Marykirk School | 5 Marykirk School is a non-denominational school and the catchment area is the village of Marykirk and the surrounding rural area. The school’s current roll is 45 in total and comprises of two classes. There are 21 children in P1-4 and 24 children in P5-7. Marykirk Primary School has 2 full time teachers and 1 part time teacher. The Head Teacher has been in post since February 2020. The Head Teacher is currently responsible for both Marykirk School and St Cyrus School in a dual headship role. Two part time Depute Heads work closely alongside the Head Teacher to support in both schools. Visiting Specialist teachers of Art and Design and Drama enhance the curricular experiences. We also have a teacher two days a week who provides additional support for learners. The school also works closely with a range of other support agencies and volunteers in order to provide the best possible experience for all our children. In addition, the staff are supported by 3 pupil support assistants, 1 school administrator, 1 Admin Assistant, 1 cook, 2 cleaners and a part time janitor. On leaving Marykirk Primary School the pupils transfer to Mearns Academy, Laurencekirk. Marykirk School is part of the Laurencekirk Community Schools’ Network and works closely with the other 6 schools in the Network. There are strong links between the schools in the network, with joint residential trips, extracurricular activities and after school clubs established this session. The school plays an active role in the community and is used for a range of community activities and clubs for all ages. The school has a very supportive Parent Council which supports school improvement priorities and raises additional funds to enhance the experiences for all our learners. Devolved budgets are managed in accordance with authority guidelines in order to support planned improvements in the school. Relationships and partners At Marykirk Primary we value partnership working and appreciate the positive, supportive relationships that exist between our pupils, staff, parents and wider community. We promote an open door policy for all our families and would encourage parents/carers to get in touch in the early stages of a concern, before it becomes a worry. Equally we appreciate feedback and welcome any ideas for improvement as well as any positive comments too! Community links continue to be strong and the school is well supported at Community Cafes, walks and fundraising events. Local businesses have been involved in Pupil Enterprise and through health week activities we have developed links with the local bowling club as well as other local sports clubs. The school works closely with a range of other support agencies and volunteers in order to provide the best possible experience for all our young people. Our Active Schools Coordinator provides a range of additional active and sporting activities for the children and we currently offer in house netball and running club with various other cluster opportunities available. Mearns Library work closely with pupils and staff with the local librarian regularly visiting the school to share stories with the children, and support staff with appropriate resources to meet the needs and interests of all our young learners. Together we hope to promote a positive reading culture in our community! We are also very fortunate to have enthusiastic parent volunteers who support both in class and through extra-curricular activities. 6 |Introduction to Marykirk School Organisation of the School Day School Hours 0850 – 1020 (P1- 4) 0850 – 1045 (P5-7) 1020 – 1040 (Break P1- 4) 1045 – 1105 (Break P5-7) 1040 – 1215 (P1-4) 1105 – 1215 (P5-7) 12.15 – 13.15 Lunch (P1-7) 13.15 – 15.15 (P1-7) Please note that the bell rings at 0850 to allow children to come in and get organised ready to start for 0900. Our Staff Team HEADTEACHER Mrs Isla Mann DEPUTE HEAD TEACHERS Mrs Jane Tulloch Mrs Charlotte McWhinnie CLASS TEACHERS Mrs Vicki Magalon Mrs Carol Anderson Mrs Laura Anderson VISITING SPECIALIST TEACHERS Ms Maria Miller (Drama) Ms Christine Gatherum (Art) ASN TEACHER Ms Shona Paterson PUPIL SUPPORT ASSISTANTS Mrs Fiona Milne Mrs Heather Herd Mrs Richlynn Donald ADMINISTRATOR Mrs Lorna Simpson ADMIN SUPPORT ASSISTANT Mrs Richlynn Donald CATERING STAFF Mrs Karen Dickson JANITORIAL STAFF Mr Brian Clark Mr Scott Hall CLEANER Mrs Sheena Murray Our Vision, Values and School Ethos | 7 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos At Marykirk Primary School our overarching aim is to provide our young learners with opportunities to experience and develop the skills and attitudes needed to become Ready, Respectful and Aspiring young people. Through working in partnership with parents and the local community we hope to create an ethos which ensures a positive, respectful and stimulating environment, thus nurturing every child to reach their full potential and enabling them to have the skills and confidence to embrace the world in which we live and become: Responsible Citizens • Encouraging an understanding of our roles, rights and responsibilities within our community and the wider world • Providing opportunities to make informed and responsible choices and decisions, respecting the beliefs and values of others (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) Effective Contributors • Promoting confidence in our young people to enable them to communicate their ideas and opinions in a variety of settings • Providing opportunities for our children to engage with others, using their initiative to create and develop ideas collaboratively with others (Article 12, UNCRC) Successful Learners • Providing quality learning experiences which inspire and motivate our young people to become successful learners • Encouraging all to reach their full potential through stimulating and independent learning (Article 28, UNCRC) Ready Confident Individuals Respectful • Providing a safe, secure and supportive environment where children feel confident to tackle new challenges Aspiring • Encouraging pursuit of a happy, healthy and active lifestyle, promoting positive self-esteem and wellbeing (Article 29, UNCRC) 8 |Curriculum Curriculum Within our 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. We will, therefore 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.