Dunrossness
Primary School
Living Laughing Learning
Handbook of Information for Parents
2009/10
CONTENTS
Foreword
Complaints
Shetland Islands Council –Department of Education and Social Care
Dunrossness Primary School
Aims of the School
General Information
- …………………………………………………………………………………………….Catchment Area
- ………………………………………………………………………………………….Induction Process
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………….School Times
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Enrolment
- ……………………………………………………………….…………………………………………..Nursery
- …………………………………………………………………………………………School Meals/Milk
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Uniform
- …………………………………………………………………………………………..School Transport
- …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Absence
- ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….Curriculum
- ………………………………………………………………………..Provision and Care of Books
- ……………………………………………………………………………………….Home/School Links
- ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………Conduct
- ………………………………………………………………………….Primary/Secondary Liaison
- ………………………………………………………………………………………In-Service Training
Health and Safety
- ……………………………………………………………………………………….Insurance of Pupils
- ……………………………………………………………………………………………………School Rules
- ………………………………………………………………………………………After School Visits
- ……………………………………………………………………………Emergency Arrangements
- ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Agencies
Sport and Social Features
21…………………………………………………………………………………After School Activities
22……………………………………………………………………………………………………..School Fund
23…………………………………………………………………………………………Cycling Proficiency
24……………………………………………………………………………………………………School Trips
25………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Sports
26…………………………………………………………………………………Christmas Celebrations
Foreword
The information supplied within this handbook is accurate at the date of printing. We have tried where possible to include all recent changes but cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.
Please remember when reading this handbook that it is for your help and information, and that it is not a legal document laying down rights or duties for anyone.
In particular, nothing herein prejudices the right of the Schools Service or the Head Teacher of the school to make any decisions relating to the school as they see fit, without regard to whether this will affect the accuracy of any matters contained in this publication.
Further, neither the Schools Service nor any member of the staff of the school is legally responsible for any erroneous information contained in this document.
Concerns/Complaints
We hope that you will be happy with all that we do at Dunrossness Primary School. However, should you feel the need to voice a concern or make a complaint, please speak to the Head Teacher in the first instance.
Where you still feel that your complaint is unresolved, you may contact the Quality Improvement Officer for the school, Mrs Maggie Spence, on 01595 744085.
A copy of our full complaints procedure is available on request from the school office.
Dunrossness Primary School
Telephone: 01595 745440
Fax: 01950 460803
E-mail:
Web-site:
Accommodation: Nursery, 6 classrooms, ICT Suite, ASN Room, Music Room,
Art Room, Library and Indoor Training Pool.
Number of pupils: 111 + 23 Nursery
Shetland Islands Council – Schools Service
Head of Schools Mrs Helen Budge
Quality Improvement Manager Mrs Audrey Edwards
(Can be contacted at Department of Education and Social Care, Hayfield House, Hayfield Lane, Lerwick. ZE1 0QD. Tel: 01595 744000)
Parent Council
Chairperson Mrs Margaret Tregonning
Vice ChairpersonMrs Caroline Smith
TreasurerMr Hansen Black
ClerkMrs S. Malcolmson, 4 Horseshoe Close, Virkie
Tel: 460847
Elected Staff MemberMs G. Scanlan
Co-opted MembersMrs E. Mainland
CouncillorsMr R Nickerson
Mr A. Duncan
Mr J. Budge
School Staff for 2009-10
Head Teacher:Ms Lesley Simpson
Acting Principal Teacher/
Additional Support Needs Teacher:Ms Gina Scanlan
Class Teachers:
Early Stages Miss Fiona Duncan (Nursery)
Miss Laura Whyte (Primary 1)
Primary 2/3 Miss Valerie Hughson
Primary 3/4 Mrs Helen Moar
Primary 5 Mrs Maureen Blyth
Primary 6Mrs Sandra Hay
Primary 7 Mrs Rachel Bell
Support Staff:
N.N.E.B: Mrs Carol Wadley
Classroom Assistant Mrs Violet Casey
ASN Auxiliaries: Mrs Emma Graydon
Mrs Leona Smith
Mrs Kelly Edwards
Mrs Stella Smith
Playground Supervisor/
Admin assistant: Mrs Jacqueline Jamieson
Clerical Assistant: Mrs Miriam Birnie
Janitors: Mr John MacKenzie
Mr Kevin Harper
Visiting Teachers and Instructors:
P.E. and SwimmingMrs Joan Smith
MusicMrs Annalie Irvine
Art and DesignMs Fiona Burr
KnittingMrs Marian Poleson
WoodwindMrs Jane Morton
PianoMrs Moira Peterson
Traditional FiddleMs Eunice Henderson
BrassMr Roy Hughson
AccordionMr Peter Wood
GuitarMr Stevie Hook
Canteen Staff:
Mrs Edith Hutchison (Head Cook)
Mrs Kate Goudie, Mrs Jane Flaws, Miss Katherine Henderson.
Our Vision
Dunrossness Primary School: A happy school where everyone is supported and encouraged to achieve their full potential.
Our Aims
1.To provide a safe, secure, happy and healthy learning environment where respect is given to all and shown by all;
2.To shape values, promote independence and responsibility and develop skills for life;
3.To encourage, motivate and support everyone in our school to be the best they can be;
4.To inspire, reward and celebrate success and achievement in all areas of learning;
5.To be an integral and responsible element of the whole community that we are all proud to belong to.
The Curriculum for Excellence
The Scottish school curriculum has recently been reviewed and we have a new “Curriculum for Excellence”. This curriculum aims to develop four capacities for successful learning. These are:
Successful Learners
With:
- Enthusiasm and motivation for learning
- Determination to reach high standards of achievement
- Openness to new thinking and ideas.
Confident Individuals
With:
- Self-respect
- A sense of physical, mental and emotional well-being
- Secure values and beliefs
- Ambition.
Responsible Citizens
With:
- Respect for others
- Commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life.
Effective Contributors
With:
- An enterprising attitude
- Resilience
- Self-reliance.
As part of this development the boundaries between each of the stages of schooling are being blurred, helping to create a curriculum for all children from 3-18 years.
A child’s journey through Nursery and Primary school will now be organised under the following stages:
Early - In pre-school and in Primary 1
First - By end of P4, but earlier for some
Second - By end of P7, but earlier for some
These new stages will provide scope for challenge and depth. There will be no pressure to speed through the levels but nor will there be any ceilings. The focus is very much on individual progress and achievement.
1 SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREA
The catchment area for Dunrossness School is the South Mainland from Channerwick to Sumburgh Head, although, under the Parents' Charter, parents may request the Council to place their child in another school. This would normally mean that any extra expense, such as transport, would be borne by the parents.
Any enquiries regarding the placing of a child in a school other than the one in the area where the parents reside should be directed to the Head of Schools well in advance of the child starting school.
2 INDUCTION PROCESS
Parents of new pupils coming into the area are invited to visit the school with their children, tour the building and meet staff and pupils. Enrolment forms and copies of the school handbook are available on request. Please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
3 SCHOOL TIMES
The school day begins at 9.15am and ends at 3.30pm for all children in P1-7. Parents of children starting school for the first time, however, may collect their child from the school at 12.30 pm [or 12.10 pm if the child does not take school dinners] from the date of starting school until the October holiday. After the October holiday, the child will be in school for the full day.
Classes: P1Morning Interval:11.00 - 11.20amLunch: 12.10 - 1.10 pm
P2-P411.00 – 11.20am 12.20 - 1.15 pm
P5-P711.00 – 11.20am 12.30 – 1.25pm
4 ENROLMENT
The school session begins in August each year. Only children who will have attained the age of five on or before the end of February of the following year are eligible to be enrolled.
Any enquiries concerning a child's age for admission to school should be brought to the Headteacher in the first instance, and, thereafter, to the Head of Schools if necessary.
5 NURSERY
Dunrossness School Nursery meets in two sessions per day, with capacity for 20 pupils per session. Enrolment is made through the school. Priority will be given to children with special needs, followed by children in their pre-school year but three year olds will also be considered if there are places available.
Morning Session 9.15 - 11.45am
Afternoon Session 12.45 - 3.15pm
Children within the Nursery and P1 classes are integrated together in our Early Stages Unit. Handbooks for the unit are available from the school office.
6 SCHOOL MEALS/MILK SERVICE
a) The School Meals Service provides a healthy, nutritious and inexpensive lunch, which is cooked on the premises. A menu is sent home monthly to allow you to discuss menu choices with your child.
The Council has a “Food on Plate” policy. This means that all children are encouraged to take one choice from each food group on to their plate. No child is forced to eat food that they do not like or want.
Parents who wish their child to take packed lunches to school should inform the school in writing in advance so that provision can be made. Lunch boxes should be securely packed and non-breakable containers used. All meals are eaten in the school canteen. To change from packed lunch to school lunch and vice versa, we need a full week’s notice due to the ordering of foodstuffs.
b) Dinner Money is payable weekly on Friday mornings, currently £1.55 per day. Cheques with pupils' names and numbers of meals detailed on the back are preferred. Application forms for free meals may be obtained from the school.
c) School milk is charged at a rate of 50p per week payable for each term in advance. The low charge for milk is due to assistance from the E.E.C. School Milk Subsidy Scheme.
7 UNIFORM
School uniform consists of a navy sweatshirt, cardigan or fleece and a red polo shirt, both with the school logo. Jeans or plain trousers/skirts may be worn with sensible shoes.
All uniform is ordered and purchased through the school.
Information regarding clothing grants is available from the school.
For PE and Drama lessons, children require shorts, T-shirt and gym shoes. Slip-on gym shoes are preferred for young children.
Children are asked to wear an apron or old shirt for Art lessons.
A swimming costume, goggles and a towel are needed for swimming lessons.
All items of clothing should be clearly marked with the child's name.
8 SCHOOL TRANSPORT
Free transport is provided by the authority for pupils under eight years of age who live more than two miles from the school, and for pupils aged eight years and over who live more than three miles from the school. If the children live a half mile or more from the bus route, transport is provided to make the connection.
During the winter months all children who live more than one and a half miles from the school are transported. If your child does not qualify for transport under these regulations, and you consider that you have a special case (e.g. child suffering ill health, or has a dangerous route to school) you may appeal for transport for your child to the Education Service.
All the school buses are fitted with seat belts and children are strongly advised to wear them.
Children are expected to be well behaved and courteous on the buses. Although conduct of children on school transport is a matter of shared responsibility between the bus company and parents, the school is, nevertheless, interested and actively involved in helping to resolve any problems which may arise.
Parents must be aware, however, that, if their children persist in misbehaving on school transport, bus drivers reserve the right to refuse to carry them.
9 ABSENCE
All children are required to attend school regularly unless prevented by illness, or for some other good reason.
If a child is absent, please phone the school office on the first day of absence.
If the absence is likely to be lengthy, it would be appreciated if parents would let us know as soon as possible.
Parents are requested to arrange family holidays to coincide with school holidays so as to cause the least possible disruption to their child's education. Absence for family holidays during term time will be classed as unauthorised absence.
A request to withdraw a child from school should be made to the Headteacher well in advance, stating clearly the dates the child will be absent.
Where your child is absent following a case of sickness or diarrohea please be aware that they should be kept from attending school for 48 hours following the last bout of illness. This helps to prevent re-infection of other children and staff.
SCHOOL CURRICULUM
10 RANGE AND LEVEL OF CURRICULUM
The 3-18 Curriculum for Excellence provides a structure and a programme of activities for all pupils in keeping with the aims of the school. The curriculum enables pupils to encounter a range of areas of learning through which they will meet different kinds of knowledge, develop new skills and experience different ways of thinking.
The Curriculum is based on a set of principles applicable to all pupils: challenge and enjoyment, breadth, depth, coherence, progression, relevance, personalisation and choice.
Breadth is achieved through a balance within the main areas of the curriculum: Language, Mathematics, Social Subjects, Expressive Arts, Religious and Moral Education, Personal and Social Development, Health and Wellbeing, Technologies and Science.
Language: Languageis subdivided into Listening, Talking, Reading and Writing, each of which is given an equal weighting although, in the early years, Listening and Talking predominate.
Reading in the Early Stages is developed using The Oxford Reading Tree scheme and children become familiar with the sounds and the letters of the alphabet through Jolly Phonics. In the later stages, New Ginn 360 and Jolly Grammar are used. From P4 onwards, children read novels at an appropriate level and use the computerised Accelerated Reader programme. Further details are available in school.
A variety of material is used to develop comprehension and interpretation skills, imaginative and functional writing and also listening and talking skills.
From P6, pupils will have the opportunity to study French.
Mathematics: The Maths curriculum consists of Problem Solving and Enquiry, Information Handling, Number, Money and Measurement and Shape, Position and Movement. In the early years, the emphasis is on number with some work on pattern, information handling and shape. By Primary 7, the children will have acquired a broad range of mathematical skills including discovering, discussing, ordering, classifying, generalising, drawing and measuring. The Scottish Heinemann Maths Scheme is used across the school.
Environmental Studies: The Environmental Studies curriculum provides a rich context for developing the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to interpret experience. This curricular area comprises Science, Social Subjects, Technology and Information Technology.
Progression is achieved by starting, at the early stages, with topics relating directly to the child. This leads on through the process of investigation of the local environment which, in turn, addresses the national and ultimately the global environment.
Expressive Arts: The Expressive Arts encourage the exploration of values and foster imagination and creativity through the areas of Art and Design, Drama, Dance and Music.
Subject specialists present a curriculum appropriate to each stage within the school.
Health and Well Being: Health Education focuses on three interconnected strands - physical health, emotional health and social health.
In the early years, Health Education is mostly integrated into Environmental Studies topic work whereas, by the upper primary stages, it can become more of a discrete subject. Parents have the right to withdraw children from Sex Education classes, which take place during P6 & P7.
Personal and Social Development: PSD permeates each area of the curriculum and is a fundamental aspect of the education of the whole child. Through PSD, pupils will learn to identify, review and appraise the values that they and society hold and to recognise that these affect thoughts and actions. PSD is taught in discrete lessons and also through cross curricular lessons with subjects such as Health, Science and Language.
Citizenship: Citizenship seeks to teach pupils to have respect for self and each other and their interdependence with other members of their neighbourhood and society. It also aims to teach pupils the duties and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society. Children learn the skills of Enterprise and take part in fund-raising activities.
Religious and Moral Education: RME is achieved through a curriculum which includes Christianity and all other major world religions. Pupils are encouraged to develop understanding and respect for people of all faiths.
Activities in these areas will help pupils to appreciate values such as honesty, fairness and respect for others and to develop a personal code of behaviour.
Parents have the right to seek exemption for their children from both Religious and Moral Education and Religious Observance.
Homework: Homework is seen as an integral part of learning in Dunrossness Primary School. It is therefore useful and relevant to learning and something which teachers and pupils should approach with a positive attitude.
Homework tasks are varied and wide-ranging, well balanced and coherent. They contain opportunities for open-ended work by pupils as well as ongoing practice of reading, spelling and number skills.
Assessment and Reporting: Continuous assessment is carried out by teachers using experience and professional judgement. Assessment can be formal or informal and at all times is used to help children to develop their learning. The school applies formative assessment strategies across the curriculum, developing personalised learning.
Children are given individual targets in Language and Maths on a termly basis.
Due to full implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence in our school, we will no longer be using 5-14 assessments but will be relying on standardised national data assessment with PIPS testing in P1, P3, P5 and P7 as well as our teachers professional judgement.