PROSPECTUS INDEX
GENERAL INFORMATION
1Address / Phone / Fax / email
2Description
3School Staff
4Vision, Values and Aims
5Organisation of School Day
6Enrolment of Prospective Pupils
7Pre-School Contact
8Positive Behaviour
9Links with Parents / The Community
10Primary / Secondary Liaison
11 Attendance
12Dress
13Transport
14School Meals / Tuck Shop
15School Development Plan
16Primary Curriculum
17Assessment
18Child Support
19 Homework
20Parent Council
HEALTH & SAFETY
21 School Rules
22 Illness / Injury / Medication
23 Medical Services
24 Insurance
25 Snow / Bad Weather Emergencies
26 Cycling Proficiency
27 School Trips
1 SCHOOL ADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILS
Tingwall Primary School
Tingwall
Shetland
ZE2 9SE
Telephone – Gott 840257
Fax – Gott 840573
Email –
2 DESCRIPTION
Tingwall Primary School serves the educational needs of children from primary 1 to primary 7 residing in the Tingwall Valley and surrounding areas, along with children from other areas whose parents elect to enrol them. The present roll is 58.
The school, in addition to daytime educational use, is used for meetings of several associations.
The building comprises two classrooms linked to two hut classrooms by an enclosed walkway. There is a head teacher’s office and a secretary’s office. Outside there is a multicourt, large grassed playing area and adjacent to this is a smaller grassed area equipped with a chute, swings and climbing frames. There is also a play shelter.
Tingwall School values the involvement of parents as well as members of the wider community for the smooth running of the school. When parents, teachers and pupils work in partnership, children can be equipped with the necessary skills and values for life.
3 SCHOOL STAFF
Head Teacher – Cheryl Spofforth
Class Teacher – Gillian Isbister
Class Teacher – Connie Nisbet
Admin support teacher – Anne Fraser
Probationer support teacher – Sameena Akhtar
ASN teacher – Marion Wiseman
Itinerant PE teacher – Alastair McNiven
Itinerant art teacher – Peter Davis
Itinerant music teacher – Robert Bennet
Piano instructor – Linda Peterson
Knitting instructor – Verinia Fraser
Fiddle instructor – Eunice Henderson
Fiddle Instructor – Debbie Scott
ASN auxiliary – Sheila Morrison
ASN auxiliary – Alexis Watt
Early Years Worker – Pauline Gilfillan
Classroom assistant – Julie Moncrieff
Playground auxiliary – Julie Moncrieff
Secretary – Margaret Smith
Cook in charge – Sharon Moar
Canteen assistant – Kathleen Blance
Canteen assistant – Maureen Peterson
Cleaner in charge – Josephine Goudie
Cleaner – Evelyn Henderson
The school chaplain visits fortnightly.
4 VISION, VALUES AND AIMS
Vision Statement
To encourage our learners to embrace the school motto: ‘TRY DEE BEST’ in order to achieve their full potential in a safe, stimulating and harmonious learning environment
This school,in partnership with parents and the community, shares the purpose of ensuring our young people have the opportunity to become:
Successful Learners who:
Show enthusiasm and motivation for life-long learning
Try their best and persevere
Develop good numeracy, literacy and communication skills
Can use technology
Can link and apply their understanding in new situations
Confident Individualswho:
Respect themselves and others
Pursue a happy, healthy and active lifestyle
Can voice their own opinions in a responsible manner, while considering the views of others
Assess risk and take informed decisions to achieve success
Responsible Citizenswho:
Show a sense of community at local, national and global levels
Understand different beliefs and cultures
Evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues
Participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life
Effective Contributors who:
Are resilient and self-reliant
Show initiative and an enterprising attitude
Have excellent communication and social skills
Can work in partnership and in teams
Think critically and can solve problems
5 ORGANISATION OF SCHOOL DAY
Teachers arrive at school 10 minutes before opening time. For insurance purposes, parents are encouraged not to send their children to school before 8.50 am.
Morning session 9.00 -10.40
Midday session 10.55 -12.30
Afternoon session 1.15 -3.00
An auxiliary is employed for supervisory duties during both intervals supported by the early years assistant.
6 ENROLMENT OF PROSPECTIVE PUPILS
Parents wishing to enrol their children should make an appointment with the head teacher by telephone or call at the school during school hours. Enrolment forms can be obtained from the school.
7 PRE-SCHOOL CONTACT
Parents of pre-school pupils will be invited to attend a meeting with staff during the fourth term of the session. The meeting will give parents the opportunity to ask about school procedure. It will also give the school the opportunity to explain the curriculum, discipline matters and objectives of the school as a whole. A brochure specifically for pre-school parents has been prepared. A member of the parent council will be invited to attend.
The Head Teacher / P1 class teacher will visit the pre-school children during the third term. The P1 class teacher will arrange a second visit accompanied by some P7 pupils to act as ‘buddies’. In the fourth term the pre-school pupils will be invited for two visits to their new school.
8 POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
Our school has an Anti-bullying policy and guidelines, drawn up by parents and parent council members in conjunction with school staff. Parents are encouraged to contact the school either by phoning or visiting if they have a concern about their child’s well-being. In order that Tingwall Primary School functions properly, it is necessary for the pupils to observe certain basic rules and standards of behaviour. The school asks parents to co-operate in making known to pupils what is required of them. No mobile phones are allowed in school.
Any rules drawn up by the school are designed to ensure the safety and well being of all pupils and staff. A pupil, therefore, should carry out instructions given by members of teaching and ancillary staff. Pupils must display a respectful demeanour when addressing or being addressed by staff.
The school and its surroundings should be kept tidy and free of litter and graffiti.
9 LINKS WITH PARENTS / THE COMMUNITY
Teacher contact:
It is advisable to make an appointment in order to see any of the three teachers as they are in the position of teaching full time. However, an ‘open-door’ policy is operated and if the matter is urgent, parents should feel they can come to school between 3.00 and 3.30 pm any day to discuss a matter with the appropriate teacher.
Parents’ evenings:
Parents’ evenings are held to discuss pupil progress and meetings with individual parents take place on a regular basis if pupils are encountering learning difficulties or to allay any fear of bullying. Parents’ evenings are held in October and March and pupil reports are sent out in June.
Parent / local helpers:
Parents are involved in school trips etc. Members of the public visit the school to give talks etc.
Local events:
A Christmas assembly is sometimes held in the local church and concerts are held in the public hall. Parents help at these events.
Local facilities:
Good liaison with the hall committee enables us to use the hall for PE, drama and lunch break activities. Strong links have been formed through visits over the years to the local: Animal Welfare Centre; Tingwall Airport; Herrislea House Hotel; as well as the Plantiecrub Garden Centre.
Local environment:
Pupils are encouraged to improve their environment by developing the school garden, taking part in ‘Da Voar Redd Up’ and reclaiming a piece of land adjacent to the playshelter.
Parent Council:
Parents are invited to approach their representatives on the Parent Council regarding any issue giving cause for concern. Names and phone numbers of elected members are displayed on the school notice board as are the minutes of Parent Council meetings.
10 PRIMARY / SECONDARY LIAISON
Pupils normally transfer to Scalloway Junior High School at the end of Primary 7. The head teacher is Mrs J Gear. If parents wish their child to transfer to an alternative school, a placing request must be sent to the Head of Education Services. The local press will publish dates for the completion of placing requests.
11 ATTENDANCE
The class teacher should be informed by note, or the parent should contact the head teacher, if there is a need to withdraw a child from school during school hours. Pupils must be brought into the classroom by a parent or responsible adult if they arrive after school has commenced.
Absence reporting
Nationally and locally the move is towards ensuring that parents, together with schools, all know the whereabouts of children at all times during the day, but especially at the start of the school day. Therefore we are altering our school procedure for reporting absences. We ask that if your child is not going to attend school on a given day, you contact the school before 9.30 am (calls can be taken from 8.45 am). This is only necessary on the first day of absence. You can of course still advise us of planned absences in advance. Where the school does not receive notification from parents the school secretary will endeavour to contact parents by 11.00 am to confirm the whereabouts of their children. An escalation process whereby the secretary informs the Head Teacher of unexplained absences after 11.00 am will be in place. The Head Teacher will then decide upon the most appropriate action to take given the individual circumstances.
We realise that it is not always easy for parents to contact the school early in the morning when trying to make an appointment with the doctor or report to work. However, you will appreciate that the draft guidance from the Scottish Government is focused on the safety of children and it would be irresponsible of us not to take their advice on board.
Parents must send an explanatory note to the class teacher when the child returns to school. Failure to send a note within one week of the child’s return may result in unauthorised absences being recorded.
When a child is likely to be absent for a long period, but is fit enough to carry on with his or her studies, the parents are advised to contact the school for a work assignment. If the period of absence for health reasons is to be very long, several weeks or months, arrangements may be possible for the child to have individual tuition at home.
12 DRESS
The school has a uniform consisting of a royal blue sweatshirt with a logo and an accompanying light blue polo shirt. It is important that sweatshirts and polo shirts are clearly marked with the child’s name. Uniforms are available to order from Intersport in Lerwick. Wearing of the uniform is not compulsory but children are expected to wear sensible clothing, appropriate to the time of year. Pupils are also asked to refrain from wearing t-shirts with inappropriate slogans. In the interests of health and safety dangling earrings and high-heeled footwear should not be worn at school.
Parents must provide pupils with protective clothing to wear during creative activities. Attention should be paid to replacing these to allow for growth. The manufacturer’s instructions for the removal of paint and glue are available from the school if necessary.
A t-shirt, shorts and gym shoes are required for PE. These same gym shoes should be worn indoors during wet weather. The child’s name should be written on these and also on rubber boots.
13 TRANSPORT
The local authority provides free daily transport all year round for children living an appropriate distance from the school e.g. 1.5 miles during the winter months.
Parents wishing details about school transport should contact Mr Ken Duerden, Transport Services, 20 Commercial Road, Lerwick.
For safety reasons, if a child is not returning home as normal the parent must send an informal note to the class teacher informing her of the arrangements.
E.g.John will be going to Sam’s house after school.
Signature of parent
Date
If this involves travelling on school transport it is the parent’s responsibility to arrange this with the transport operator.
14 SCHOOL MEALS / TUCK SHOP
Two course lunches are available at the current rate to all who wish them and are served in the dining hall. Free fresh fruit is available to pupils in Primary 1 on three days per week. Milk is available daily at the current rate. The low charge for milk in schools is due to assistance from the EC School Milk Subsidy Scheme. You can claim free school meals for your family if you are in receipt of the following benefits – Income Support; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Child Tax Credits only and your income is £15,575 or less. Application forms are available from SIC Schools Service, Education & Social Care, Hayfield House, Hayfield Lane, Lerwick, ZE1 0QD tel: 744055, or from the head teacher. Lunch money is collected in arrears on Fridays unless you are advised otherwise. If payment is by cheque, it should be made payable to “Shetland Islands Council”.
The school runs a ‘Healthy Choice’ tuck shop daily, selling items such as apples, bananas, grapes, oatcakes, breadsticks, yoghurt and pancakes. Any profits go towards school funds.
15 SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
An overview audit of all areas of the curriculum is carried out annually. Focused audits are then carried out to address any weak areas. The School Development Plan is presented to and discussed with the Parent Council each year. It is available to parents at any time.
16 PRIMARY CURRICULUM
Children are taught in composite classes by class, group or individual methods. The school’s equal opportunity policy is such that each child is encouraged to realise his/her full potential in all curricular areas. Work is adapted to suit the capabilities of the individuals so that self-esteem can be kept as high as possible. The 5 – 14 curriculum is currently being replaced by the 3 – 18 Curriculum for Excellence which aims to help all young people to become successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals. It is divided into 8 main areas:
- Languages and Literacy
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- Expressive Arts
- Health and Well-being
- Religious and Moral Education
- Sciences
- Social Studies
- Technologies
LANGUAGES AND LITERACY
It is necessary for children to be able to read fluently and with understanding. The basic skills of phonics and word recognition are taught from primary 1 onwards. The higher comprehension and reference skills are systematically developed as the child progresses through the school.
Modern reading schemes, including ‘Accelerated Reading’, with suitable language development work, are used throughout the school.
The school has good collections of reference and fiction books, with each class having the opportunity to visit the library on a weekly basis.
MATHEMATICS AND NUMERACY
Children are equipped with the basic skills of number work as well as the necessary mathematical concepts.
Children are encouraged to be interested in mathematics, not only as presented in the classroom, but as encountered in real life situations.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS
Art is taught weekly by a visiting specialist. Drama is usually related to project work but this is often supported by the Drama Advisor who either works with pupils as part of the school day or runs after school clubs.
Tuition is provided in both piano and fiddle, but it is impossible to offer this to every child. Selection of pupils from Primary 5 (or more rarely from Primary 4) is on the basis of availability of time, aptitude and the willingness of parents to ensure that the pupils will practise outside school hours.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Health and Well-being framework encourages the development of a school ethos which is characterised by care, respect, participation, responsibility and fairness for all.
All pupils receive PE in the Tingwall Hall. Shorts, t-shirt and gym shoes are the dress for PE. Traditional Dance is taught in PE time and is often supported by a visiting specialist.
The school is allocated 16 hours of swimming lessons at the Scalloway Pool each session. This time is distributed evenly from P1 to P7. The authority provides transport to and from Scalloway Swimming Pool free. Parents’ consent is necessary before a child starts swimming lessons.
RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATION
Religious Education is Christian although other world religions are studied. The school chaplain leads fortnightly school assemblies. Any parent not wishing their child to take part in worship must inform the head teacher.
SOCIAL STUDIES / SCIENCES
These studies are usually presented in the form of cross-curricular projects.
Social studies helps pupils to develop their understanding of the world by learning about other people, and their values, in different times, places and circumstances and how their environments has been shaped.