Welcome to Bonhill Primary School School Handbook 2020/2021 1 Contents Page Number Statement of Commitment/Learning for Life 4 School Vision and Values Statement 5 & 6 School Information 7 - 10 Staffing 11 & 12 School Hours and the School Year 13 - 15 Enrolment and Policies for Parents 15 School Improvement, Achievement and Curriculum Areas 16 - 23 Assessment Tracking and Reporting on Pupil Progress 23 - 25 Equal Opportunities and Social Justice 25 Additional Support Needs and Pupil Support Structure 27 - 31 Anti-Bullying Policy 31 Homework and School/Community Links 32 Attendance at School 33 & 34 Extra Curricular Activities 34 & 35 Promoting Positive Behaviour 35 & 36 Clothing and Uniform 36 - 38 2 Meals/Transport/ Photography 39 Medical, Health Care and Emergencies 40 & 41 Parental Involvement and the Parent Council 41 & 42 Transfer from Primary to Secondary School 43 Data Protection 44 & 45 Service Standards 46 Important Addresses 47 3 Department of Education and Cultural Services Statement of Commitment ‘Opportunity through Learning’ Every person has the right to be educated in a climate in which individuality is recognised and in which everyone feels valued. We are committed to working in partnership with you to provide education of the highest quality. Learning for Life We will work together to ensure that everyone in our community is valued and has the opportunity to learn for life and to achieve their potential. Vision: To enable everyone in West Dunbartonshire to become: Successful Learners Confident Individuals Responsible Citizens Effective Contributors To achieve our vision we will: Create and deliver courses, activities and events which will motivate and excite learners Develop innovative ways to support learning Value diversity, promote equal opportunities and foster inclusion Promote partnership and community participation Value achievement and celebrate success Continually reflect on and aim to improve the quality of our services 4 Bonhill Primary School Vision, Values and Aims Statement Parents, pupils and teachers worked together to agree upon: Our Shared Vision With parents as our partners, our vision is to provide a welcoming, happy, caring, stimulating and secure environment in which all will recognize and achieve their fullest potential. We will foster an ethos where all achievements are celebrated and where everyone feels included, respected and valued. We will work to ensure our school is at the heart of our local community. Our Shared Aims To develop a sense of pride in ourselves, each other and our environment To provide a safe, happy, caring and stimulating environment for all, where everyone feels included, valued and respected To establish an inclusive and welcoming school at the heart of the local community To equip children with the skills for life and the future 5 Our Shared Values Respect In Bonhill Primary, we respect ourselves, others and our community Responsibility In Bonhill Primary, we are responsible for our own actions and ensure everyone’s rights are respected Manners In Bonhill Primary, we treat others as we would like to be treated Perseverance In Bonhill Primary, we never say ‘I can’t’, we always say ’I’ll try’. Honesty In Bonhill Primary, we always show honesty by being open and truthful towards ourselves and others, no matter how hard Fairness In Bonhill Primary, we treat everyone equally and ensure everyone is given the same opportunity to achieve their full potential 6 School Information Bonhill Primary School Raglan Street, Bonhill, Alexandria G83 9JA Tel: 01389 773700 Fax: 01389 773709 Email: [email protected] Head Teacher Miss Julie Reilly Depute Head Teacher Mr Satwant Bance Principal Teacher Ms Laura Campbell Bonhill Primary School is a non-denominational, co-educational school serving the catchment area which extends from Dalmonach, in the north, to Strathleven, in the south. Bonhill Primary School has a state of the art flagship building which can accommodate children from Primary 1 through to Primary 7. At present, we have 292 children on the school roll and we have a maximum capacity of approximately 325 pupils. Parents should note that the working capacity of the school may vary dependent upon the number of pupils at each stage and the way in which classes are organised. 7 The school has 10 spacious and modern classrooms as well as an ICT suite, Library and Hall. Due to a growing demand for places within the school, we have had to utilise our ICT suite as a classroom. Our corridors are spacious and also form part of the ‘break out’ area which extends the learning and teaching area of every classroom. An important and integral feature of each classroom is the teaching wall where ICT and technology help to engage and motivate our learners. The learning environment is also enhanced by our inner courtyard which is an outdoor classroom, outdoor dining area and gardening area. We have added our Playbarn to the inner courtyard where the children in the Infant Department can be fully immersed in our Learn through Play methodology. The playground area features an all-weather pitch, soft play areas and a variety of fixed play equipment. We have a pirate ship situated in our infant playground and an outside classroom, Forest School cabin and bouldering wall situated in the senior playground. We also have an outside pizza oven to enhance our outdoor learning environment as well as established vegetable plots where we grow vegetables which we sell to the local community and use in the school kitchen. Outdoor Learning is an important feature of the learning experience enjoyed by our children and each term we have a day where the learning is focused on the outdoors. All children and staff participate in this and we have a variety of wet weather suits to protect the children. There is no such thing as bad weather – only bad clothing! 8 We are extremely lucky to have a 21st century building that helps us prepare our children for a 21st century workplace. Parents are very welcome and I hope that you are as impressed with our excellent surroundings as we are. We consider ourselves to be an open school in so much as we aim to be available for parents/carers whenever possible and we make it a priority to be able to meet requests for appointments and meetings at times when requested. We try hard to do so even at very short notice and when this is not possible we make arrangements to meet with parents as soon as it is possible. Opportunities are given regularly through our newsletters and in other forms of communication to comment on school routines and practices and to give parents the opportunity to offer suggestions with regard to the curriculum. Parents can find a range of information about schools on the council website: http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/school- search/ All educational establishments within West Dunbartonshire Council are members of a Local Learning Community (LLC). These LLC’s are made up of one secondary school and its associated primary schools and include a number of Early Education and Childcare Centres and Partnership nurseries. Bonhill Primary School is a member of the Vale of Leven Learning Community. 9 The five Learning Communities in West Dunbartonshire have been established as part of West Dunbartonshire’s educational improvement strategy. This strategy has a clear focus to raise educational aspirations, achievement and attainment of all pupils while improving the skills and knowledge of all staff involved in the education of children and young people. Miss Reilly, Head Teacher, represents Bonhill Primary School on the Vale of Leven Learning Community; however other members of staff may attend meetings in support of improvement work. The Vale of Leven Local Learning Community is led by Miss Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Manager. Updates of the work of LLCs will be made available through parent council meetings and through Standards and Quality reporting. 10 Staffing Bonhill Staff Head Teacher Miss Julie Reilly Depute Head Teacher Mr Satwant Bance Principal Teacher Ms Laura Campbell Class Teachers P 1 Mrs Ford and Miss Gibson P 2 Miss Hawthorne P2/3 Mrs Allison P3 Mrs Wilson P3/4 Miss Sweeney P4 Mrs Mitchell P5 Ms Campbell and Mrs Monaghan P5/6 Mrs Mowat and Mrs McColgan P6 Mrs O’Brien P7a Mrs Stewart P7b Miss C Reilly Flexibility Mrs Riach Mrs McDonald Mrs Freeman Miss McGhee Staff Development Through In-Service Training, internal and external courses, Collaborative planning and working all staff continually develop their knowledge and understanding of classroom teaching, learning and assessment within the primary curriculum. 11 Brass Instructor Mr Lorne Cowieson (1/2 day weekly) Clerical Assistants Mrs Pamela Vincent and Miss Megan Rae Learning Assistants Mrs Lorraine Gillespie, Mrs Eleanor Davidson, Mrs Anne Leonardi, Miss Stacey Donnelly, Mrs Emma Arnold and Mrs Josephine Hunter Pupil and Family Support Mrs Isobel Watt Educational Psychologist Mrs Amy Began Janitor Mr Charlie Meikle In addition, the following staff are employed by Contract Services and the School Crossing Patrol. Cleaners Paula Caird, Cass Ewing and Hazel Cameron Lollipop Lady Mrs Susan McDonald Catering Assistants Mrs Sharon Neil, Mrs Jackie Gildea, Mrs Annette Bishop, Mrs Michelle Jackson, Mrs Amanda Fleming and Mrs Susan McDonald. 12 School Hours and the School Year Opening : 9.00am Interval : 10.30am —10.45am Lunch : 12.15pm — 1.00pm Close : 3.00pm Primary 1 children attend school for the whole day from the first day on the 17th August 2020 N.B. The school is not open to pupils before 9.00 and, on wet days, parents should send pupils in no earlier than 8.50 am On very wet days, the janitor will ring the bell at 8.45 am to allow the pupils into the classrooms.