Luthermuir Primary School School Handbook Session: 2012-13 This document is available in alternative formats (Please contact the Head Teacher) - 1 - Luthermuir Primary School School Road Luthermuir Aberdeenshire AB30 1FQ Telephone - (01674) 840304 E mail - [email protected] Website - www.luthermuir.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Dear Parent, Welcome to Luthermuir Primary School. We take pride in the fact that this is a happy and industrious school with a real sense of team spirit. We hope that your child enjoys his/her time at Luthermuir Primary School. The education of a child is far too important to be left to a school alone. Parents 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 Luthermuir Primary School as we can, and has been written in response to ‘School Handbook Guidance (Scotland) Regulations 2012.’ The coloured sections in this handbook will be updated annually and you will be asked to replace certain pages with new information. We hope you find our handbook clear and informative. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions for improvements. Yours sincerely Mr Mat Northcroft 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. - 2 - CONTENTS PAGE Section 1 – General School Information Contact Information – p6 School Background – p7 Visits of Prospective Parents – p9 Admission/Enrolment/School Zone – p8 Organisation of School Day – p10 School Uniform – p10 Pupil Belongings & Valuables – p11 School Equipment – p11 Arrival at School & Playground Information – p12 Parking – p13 School Transport - p13 School Office – p14 School Meals/Playpiece/Tuckshop/Cakes & Treats – p14 Pupil Attendance & Absence – p16 Communicable Diseases, Head Lice & Asthma – p17 Emergency Closures/Adverse Weather - p18 Section 2 – Curriculum & Assessment School Ethos/Aims/Values – p22 Positive Behaviour Management – p24 Bullying & Exclusion – p25 Curriculum – p26 Educational Visits – p34 Assessment & Reporting – p36 Extra Curricular Activities – p38 Instrumental Tuition – p38 Sensitive Aspects of the Curriculum – p39 Section 3 – Parental Involvement/Pupil Welfare & Support Parental Involvement & The Parent Council – p45 Communication – p46 Health Care/Dental Inspection & Administration of Medicines – p48 Transitions & Transfer to Secondary School – p49 Child Protection – p49 Support for Pupils – p50 Additional Support Needs – p53 Concerns & Complaints – p56 Insurance – p57 Section 4 – School Improvement & Data Protection School Improvement, Standards & Quality & Improvement Planning – p59 Transferring Educational Data – p60 - 3 - Parental Access to Records – p61 Section 5 - Annual Updates School Clothing Grants & Free School Meals – p63 Staff List & Class Allocations – p64 Annual Holiday Calendar- p64 Map of Catchment Area – p65 Plan of the School – p66 - 4 - Section 1 General School Information - 5 - Mat Northcroft Head Teacher Luthermuir Primary School School Road Luthermuir Aberdeenshire AB30 1QA Telephone Number- (01674) 840 304 (You can leave a message on this line.) Website- www.luthermuir.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Email Address- [email protected] Type of School- Luthermuir is a Primary school. Present Roll: 66 pupils For further information about the roll and structure of classes please see coloured section at the back of this book. Denominational Status – Luthermuir Primary School is a non denominational school. The school does not teach by means of the Gaelic Language. All Aberdeenshire Schools are Co-educational, providing education for both boys and girls. Email address for the Parent Council (commonly referred to as the PTA): Information Line: 0870 054 4999 (022140) Adverse weather and emergency closure: 0870 054 4999 (022140) Website: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/closures Please see page 18 for further information regarding adverse weather and emergency closures. Q.I Officer: Helen Shanks- Marr, Kincardine & Mearns Area ELL Office Queens Road Stonehaven AB39 2QQ Tel: 01569 766960 Fax: 01569 768489 - 6 - Contact details for Director of Education, Learning and Leisure Mrs Maria Walker Woodhill House Westburn Road Aberdeen AB16 5GB 01224 665420 Luthermuir Primary School Background Information The Village of Luthermuir is settled in an attractive rural location about 5 miles south of Laurencekirk and 8 miles West of Montrose. Originally a weaving village it has grown fairly slowly over recent decades and has retained much of its charm. There are no shops but the village has a strong sense of community with the school and local hall hosting a range of events throughout the year. In addition, there is a successful amateur football club which now boasts a women’s team while the village pub acts as a focus for darts, snooker and other social activities. A picturesque church and a play park complete the picture. The school is non-denominational and the catchment area is the village of Luthermuir and the surrounding rural area. The catchment area (see map on p65) stretches West from the A90 dual carriageway starting at the Thornton junction and continuing to NorthWaterbridge. From here, the boundary follows the River North Esk to Edzell. Many pupils who attend the school live in Edzell Woods, a settlement established following the closure of the Edzell air base. A bus is provided to transport the children to and from the school. The school’s current roll is 66 pupils. The school does not have a nursery on site. The nearest nursery schools are around 3 miles away in Edzell, Angus (to the South) or Fettercairn (to the North) Luthermuir Primary Primary School has 3 full time teaching staff, including the Head Teacher who is class committed two days per week. He shares the teaching of his class with a permanent relief teacher. Specialist teachers help with the delivery of Art and Design, Music, Drama, French and Physical Education. We also have two visiting teaches who provide support for learners one day each per week. 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 activities for the children. The staff are supported by two part-time Pupil Support Assistants (PSA), a school administrator, and a cleaner. Janitorial duties are covered through scheduled visits from staff based at Mearns Academy. - 7 - On leaving Luthermuir Primary Primary School the pupils transfer to Mearns Academy, Laurencekirk. Luthermuir Primary School is part of the Mearns Community Schools’ Network and works closely with the other six schools in the Network. Community links are a valued part of school life. The school is available for a range of community activities, including after school sports and activity clubs. The Head Teacher is invited to attend Community Association meetings as well as Village Hall Committee meetings. The school has a very supportive Parent Council (PTA) who support school improvement activities and raise additional funds to provide many extras for the pupils in the school. Parents are actively encouraged to share their time and skills to support learning and add to the range of experiences the school provides. Volunteers currently assist with in roles such as running the library, assisting with the website, coaching football and providing additional support in classrooms or with resource preparation from time to time. The school actively pursues links with local businesses. Devolved budgets are managed in accordance with authority guidelines in order to support planned improvements in the school. **HMIe last inspected the school in 2003** The school is accredited at commitment level as a Health promoting school and has a Silver Eco School Award. The school has also been recognised as a Bird Friendly School. The school is currently committed to developing its Ethos and practices through the UN Rights Respecting Schools initiative. For further information about classes and teachers please see the coloured section at the back of this handbook. Joining Us: VISITS OF PROSPECTIVE PARENTS Prospective parents can contact the School Office and request an appointment to come and visit the school and meet with the Head Teacher. During this visit you will get a tour of the school and have an opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any particular needs for your child(ren). Primary Admissions New entrants to P1 are enrolled early in the calendar year for entry to school in August. This is for children who will be five on or before the school start date in the middle of August. Those whose fifth birthday is between the middle of August - 8 - each year and the end of February the following year may also be admitted to primary one in August the previous year. Details of the enrolment dates are advertised in the local press by Aberdeenshire Education, Learning and Leisure Department. Further information is available at: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/parentscarers/information/choosing.asp Parents of children joining the school in classes other than P1 or in the middle of a school session should contact the head teacher who will agree a start date for the child and make arrangements for the parents and child to visit the school. School Zone A map showing the school zone/catchment area is included at the back of this booklet. Please note that children who live within the school catchment zone are automatically entitled to a place in school. Please use the zone map to check whether or not you live within the Luthermuir Primary School catchment.