Muirtown Primary School
King Brude Road
Inverness
IV3 8LU
E-mail -
Website -
Tel: - 01463 239537
Dear Parents/Carers
On behalf of all the staff, I am delighted to welcome you to Muirtown Primary and hope that you and your child will have a long and happy association with us on their learning journey through school. We strive to create a happy, stimulating and caring environment that will enable your child to reach their full potential, offering a rich variety of learning experiences across the curriculum.
At Muirtown Primary, we are proud to work as a TEAM, where together everyone achieves more. The staff are an enthusiastic and committed team who work together to bring excitement, challenge and fun to learning. We also believe that a strong and supportive partnership between home and school is essential to the health and well-being of our children. Therefore, if, at any time, you have any suggestions or wish to discuss something about your child`s education or well-being, please do not hesitate to contact us through our school office.
We hope that this handbook (which is updated annually) will be informative and useful to you and your family in settling into the school environment. However, if you have any suggestions or queries about any information in the handbook, please feel free to contact us. The information in this handbook is correct at the time of printing, but may change over the course of the session as the school continues to develop and grow.
We look forward to working in partnership with you and your family.
Yours sincerely,
Rita McDaid
Head Teacher
LIST OF CONTENTSPage
Forward 1
List of contents2
School Vision and Aims3
Description of the school4
Staff5
School day6
School term dates6
School uniform7
Break-time snack/drinks7
School meals8
Visitors to the school9
Communication between parents and school9
Parents/Guardians/Carers as partners9
Parent Council10
Attendance10
Emergency Contacts11
Children at intervals11
Enrolment11
Placing Requests11
First Aid, Sickness and Accidents12
Speech and Language Therapy12
Administration of Medicines12
Promoting Positive Behaviour13
Anti-Bullying Strategy13
School Houses14
Pupil Council15
Homework16
School Book Clubs16
School Photographer16
Educational Visits/Excursions16
Fire Precautions16
Emergency Planning17
Complaints Procedure17
School Improvement Priorities and Standard and Quality Report18
CurriculumLanguage and Literacy18
Mathematics/Numeracy19
Health and Wellbeing20
Social Studies20
Sciences20
Technologies21
Expressive Arts21
Religious and Moral Education21
Enterprise Education21
Early Stages21
Assessment and Reporting22
Additional Support Needs22
School Policies24
Inclusion and Equality24
Equal Opportunities and Anti-Racist Policy24
Child Protection24
Extra-Curricular Activities24
Secondary Education25
Sports and Outdoor Facilities25
Road Safety25
Community Activities26
Transferring Educational Data about Pupils
Adverse Weather Guidelines and 0800 Telephone Information Service
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Our Vision
Our vision is for the whole school community to work together to provide the highest quality learning experiences for all children, enabling them to attain and achieve their full potential.
Our School Aims
Provide equal opportunities and inclusion strategies to foster the all-round development of every child, whilst working in positive partnership with our community partners.
- Encourage and enhance parents’ involvement in the partnership between home and school, to help children reach their full potential.
- Offer all pupils a wide range of challenging, progressive and relevant learning experiences within a safe supportive and nurturing environment which allows them to become independent learners, whilst developing skills for life, learning and work.
- Foster citizenship in pupils and raise their awareness of their roles and responsibilities, not only in the community but in the wider world.
- Ensure that school staff members work within a professional environment where they can become leaders of learning and take advantage of opportunities for further training and development in order to enhance teaching and learning, ensuring that we offer the highest quality learning experiences for all our pupils.
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Muirtown Primary
Muirtown Primary School is situated in a residential area on the north-west side of Inverness overlooking the Moray Firth. The roll at present is approximately 220, comprising of9 classes from Primary 1 – 7 and just over 60 in the Nursery.PhaseI of the building, which opened in 1976, is of semiopen plan design and comprises classroom areas, dining, medical and administrative facilities and a gymnasium which incorporates a teabar for community use. Phase II of the building opened in August 1980. The Nursery Class and four P1 – P3 classes are located in Phase I and the remaining five P4 - P7 classes occupy Phase II of the building along with a Library, Art/Science Room.
To ensure that all children have access to a full range of learning experiences, classes are grouped as far as possible according to stages, within teaching areas, thereby providing the flexibility required to organise and instruct in the many varied activities from which the children learn. Nursery classes sit opposite Primary 1 enabling children to have a smooth transition between the rooms.
Muirtown Primary School is an equal opportunities school, opposing all forms of prejudice and discrimination. We promote an understanding and respect for our pupil`s cultural identity and beliefs
There are well established links with the local community and surrounding area, with a variety of activities run after school, including Multi-sports, Highland Dancing, Rainbows, Brownies and Beavers. Miss Anne Gunn, Parish Assistant at Kinmylies Church is a frequent visitor to the school, running Scripture Union groups at lunchtime and delivering RME in classes and at assemblies throughout the session. Instruction is provided in Chanter and Strings. Muirtown Primary is within the Area School Group of Charleston Academy. We ensure that all pupils have a smooth transition to the Secondary by working closely with support staff at Charleston Academy during their last year at Primary.
STAFF
Head Teacher Mrs Rita McDaid
Depute Head Teacher/SfLMrs Karen McCabe
Principal TeacherMrs Chi Meldrum
Early Years PractitionersMrs Fraser, Miss MacDonald,
Mrs MacIver, Miss MacKay,
Miss MacRae, Mrs Strathearn,
Miss Sweeney
Primary 1(M)Mrs More
Primary 1(P)Miss Passmore
Primary 2Miss Campbell
Primary 3Miss McKay
Primary 4Miss MacKenzie
Primary 5Miss Williams
Primary5/6Miss Whyte
Primary 6/7Mrs Ross
Primary 7Mrs Meldrum
Class Contact/ Management CoverMrs Juszczak/Miss Knowles/Miss Cardoso,
Mrs Treasure
VISITING SPECIALISTS
Strings InstructionMr Hay
Chanter InstructionMrs McBain
Music Teacher Mrs Owen
Active Schools CoordinatorDagmar Borrowman,Susan Blackwood
ANCILLARY STAFF
FMAMr Melrose
Clerical AssistantMrs A Maclean, Mrs Abbott
Pupil Support AssistantsMrs MacIntosh,Ms Buchan,
Mrs McCann,Mrs MacRae,
Mrs Szczodra, Miss Bills
CookMrs Gillies
Kitchen AssistantsMs. Smeaton
Mrs Stoddart
Mrs Sanderson
Mrs Divers
Ms Gowans
Cleaning StaffMiss Gordon
Mrs Dyce
Crossing PatrollersMrs Edwards -King Brude Road
Mrs Howieson- Scorguie Road
School Chaplain TeamRevAndrew Barrie, Anne Gunn- Parish Assistant
SCHOOL DAY
School Times are as follows:
Nursery Class8.15am – 3.15pm following the flexible model
P1 – P39.00am – 12.00pm1.15pm – 3.00pm
P4 – P79.00am – 12.30pm1.15pm – 3.00pm
Morning break 10.45 - 11am
It is essential that children arrive at school to begin at the appropriate times but not before 8.45am when playground supervision starts.
SCHOOL TERM DATES 2017 – 2018
Term 1School opens Tuesday 15August 2017
closesFriday 6 October 2017
Term 2School opensMonday 23 October 2017
closesFriday 22 December 2017
Term 3School opensMonday 8 January 2018
closesWednesday 28 March 2018
Term 4School opensMonday 16 April 2018
closesFriday 29 June 2018
In-Service Days Monday 14 August 2017
Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September 2017
Wednesday 21 February 2018
Monday 4 June 2018
Mid-term break Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 February 2018
May Day Holiday Monday 7 May 2018
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SCHOOL UNIFORM
In Muirtown Primary all children are expected to wear school uniform. This not only prevents discrimination but helps the children to identify with and feel proud of their school. The uniform consists of Sweat Shirts, Polo Shirts and grey or black trouser or skirts. Fleeces are also available. School uniform can be purchased from:-
School-wear Made Easy, Unit 4/5, 57 Harbour Road, telephone number 222022. Or
tesco.com/ues
In Nursery the sweatshirts worn are red.
In primary 1 – 5 the sweatshirts and fleeces worn are royal blue.
In primary 6-7 the sweatshirts and fleeces worn are black.
Polo shirts are white or black and all garments have the school logo.
As these items are identical parents are asked to ensure all clothing is clearly marked with the child’s name.
Children should bring soft shoes suitable for wearing to gym and these will be worn at all times inside the building.
Shorts and t-shirts must be brought for gym days. Football strips should not be worn in school.
A clothing allowance is available on an annual basis to those parents receiving any one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
- Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit, but NOT in receipt of Working Tax Credit, and an income below £16,105 (as assessed by the Inland Revenue)
- Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, and an income below £6,420 (as assessed by the Inland Revenue).
BREAK-TIME SNACK / DRINKS
In our attempt to maintain “Health Promoting School” status, we expect most pupils to eat fresh or dried fruit or have a carton of juice/ water at break time.
(No fizzy or hot drinks, please)
Toast and drinks are available from the canteen at morning break except on a Friday. Children need money in their account to have a snack.
To stimulate concentration and prevent dehydration,
we encourage pupils to take bottles of water to sip
throughout the day. We have drinking fountains in every corridor and
this allows pupils to be able to refill and re-use their bottles.
SCHOOL MEALS
School Canteen, Muirtown Primary School Tel 01463 713488
Commercial Operations is the inhouse organisation of The Highland Council which provides your child(ren) with a meal at lunch times during the school term. All queries regarding meals should be addressed to the above number.
Menu
A choice of a traditional meal is available. If a child is vegetarian or has any other special dietary needs parents should contact the canteen where staff will inform them how to go about ensuring an option is available. Our canteen runs a cashless system which allows parents to credit their child’s account electronically doing away with the need for cash to be carried by children. You can access the Highland Council menu link on our school website.
Free School Meals
Our canteen staff are aware of the children in receipt of free meals. This remains the responsibility of the School. Free school meals can be claimed if you are receiving any one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
- Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit, but NOT in receipt of Working Tax Credit, and an income below
- £16,105 (as assessed by the Inland Revenue)
- Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, and an income below £6,420 (as assessed by the Inland Revenue)
Application forms for free meals (Form FM1) are available, on request, from the Head Teacher.
From January 2015 school meals are free to all Primary 1-3 children but they will need money in their account if they want to have a snack at morning break.
Packed Lunches brought from Home
All packed lunches must be eaten in the dining hall. The undernoted guidelines, for Parents of children who will be bringing packed lunches, are designed for the safety and protection of pupils:
- All food must be carried in a semirigid container with a secure lid. Containers should be clearly marked with the name of the child.
- Glass bottles, cans or fizzy drinks are not permitted for safety reasons.
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- Vacuum flasks containing hot liquids are not permitted because of the danger of scalding.
- Water beakers will be available in the dining hall.
The school cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to packed meals or their containers.On a number of occasions reading books have been damaged by juice leaking from containers in school bags. The assistance of Parents is appreciated in ensuring that containers with liquid are carried in a separate bag. During canteen sittings Mrs Abbott (Supervisory Assistant) is on duty to supervise pupils in the dining hall.
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
All visitors are required to enter the School by the front door in the main building.
A Controlled Door Entry system operates at the Front Entrance Door.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOL
Our aim is to continue positive, supportive relationships between school and home. The Head Teacher and Senior Management Team welcome parents' enquiries and will be happy to arrange interviews and meetings with the class teachers when necessary. Parents are advised not to turn up at the door without an appointment as often teaching commitments make it impossible to see parents immediately. However, the Head Teacher will always try to make herself available if you have a concern that you wish to discuss immediately.
Apart from the opportunities which you have to approach the school for an appointment at any time you will be given the opportunity to have interviews with the Class Teacher to discuss any aspect of your child's education. These will be in October and March. Parents will receive notification of these arrangements. An end of session report goes out in term 4. The report will inform you of your child’s effort and progress, in the main curricular areas.
From time to time, during the course of the session, parents may also receive an invitation to view a completed project or follow-up work in connection with an educational visit. They are also invited to some assemblies, class performances and Open Afternoons.
Parents' newsletters will be issued monthly either through email or a paper copy. Apart from being a means of conveying necessary information to parents, the newsletters are intended to give a picture of the ongoing life of the school. Our website also has lots of information about what is going on in school.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS/CARERS AS PARTNERS
We believe that much of the strength of the school lies in the positive relationships between staff, pupils and their parents. These relationships must be nurtured by a healthy exchange of information between teachers and pupils, between home and school. We always welcome parental interest in the welfare of our pupils. Whatever the nature of the issue, you can be assured of our help.
The school works very hard to keep parents informed regarding their child’s progress and any key decisions being made about their education. This includes:
- Parents’ evenings
- Parent questionnaires
- Progress checks
- Target Setting
- Information on the school website
The support of parents in their children’s education is key to the success of young people. Taking time with them, discussing work, practising language, helping them manage their homework and encouraging responsibility are important ways of supporting children’s learning.
The school always seek to involve parents in any key decisions about their child’s education and keep parents informed about progress.
PARENT COUNCIL
Muirtown Primary has an active Parent Council which addresses many issues of importance to the school. Whilst any issues relating to the staff and children should be addressed by the Head Teacher directly, the Parent Council has an important role to play in promoting home/school links. Parent Council meetings are open to all parents who have items of interest on the Agenda which they have advised the Parent Council of before the meeting.
Useful information for parents and how to get involved in your child’s education, how to support the school, information on curriculum developments can all be found at Parentzone:
PARENT COUNCIL OF MUIRTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Parent Members:
Dagmar Borrowman and Rachel MacIverChairpersons
Marie Anderson and Lani MacRae Secretary and Vice Secretary
Adele Jobes and Christine MacDonaldTreasurer and Vice Treasurer
Parent Council hotmail address is:
ATTENDANCE
To maximise the opportunities we offer your child in school it is essential that he/she attends school each day. Any absence from school has an adverse effect on teaching and learning.
Schools are required to record all authorised and unauthorised absences of pupils and to set targets for school attendance. It should be noted that absences for which the school receives no explanation are recorded as unauthorised absences.
For Child Protection reasons parents are asked to notify the school of any absence before 9.15am on the first day of absence otherwise the school will make efforts to contact parents. If no contact is made on first day of absence this will be noted by the school. If there is a second day of unexplained absence the school will make vigorous attempts to contact a carer or family member. On the third day if the school has no explanation of the absence either a home visit will be made or the police notified of non attendance. Parents are asked to take note of the above and to ensure the school has up to date contact details. Parents should inform the Head Teacher (usually by note to the Class Teacher) of any need to withdraw a child from school during normal school hours.
If a parent has arranged for a child to attend an appointment with a dentist, doctor or optician during school hours, the Class Teacher should receive written notification of the date and time of the appointment and the parents should arrange for the child to be collected from the school office. Where possible these should be made outwith school hours.It should be noted that parents must request the permission of the Head Teacher if there is a need to remove a child from school during term time. Family holidays taken during term time will be unauthorised.