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THE ROTHES PRIMARY

SCHOOL and Nursery

HANDBOOK

DECEMBER 2016

Address Green Street Rothes

Moray Scotland AB38 7BD

Telephone 01340 831269

E-mail admin.rothesp@moray-edunet.gov.uk Website http://www.rothes.moray.sch.uk Head Teacher Mrs Beverley McPherson B.Ed., M.Sc., NPQH.

C o r d e et M a n u

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Severe Weather Warnings and Unforeseen Closures

Closure Portal

Information about school closures for any reason at all is posted on The Moray Council website accessible by entering the following web address. http://schoolclosures.moray.gov.uk

School Telephone Information Line

• Dial 0870 054 9999

Calls to this number will be charged a 2p per minute service charge plus your call provider’s access

charge.

• Enter the school PIN: 031 450 • You will hear a confirmation message “Selected Rothes Primary School” Enter 1 - severe weather information Enter 2 - to leave a non-urgent message (generates an email to our school office) Enter 3 - to hear general school information Enter 4 - to enter a different school PIN Enter # - to end call

Opening Times

Nursery Morning 8.30 - 11:40 Afternoon 12:20 - 15:30

Morning Lunch Afternoon Primary 1-3 8:55 - 12:15 12:15 - 13:00 13:00 – 14.30 Primary 4-7 8.55 – 12.15 12.15 – 1300 13.00 – 15:00

If your child is going to be absent on any day please telephone Mrs Duncan in the school office. Thank you. The office telephone and

answering service is 01340 831269.

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Our community

The Rothes Primary School is a community primary school for children aged 3 to12 years with a current roll of 98 full time primary children and 18 nursery children (in half day sessions). As with most schools of this size, pupils are in composite classes which are currently capped at a maximum of 25 pupils.

2015-16 Classes as December 2015 (number of pupils)

Nursery morning Mrs Wilson (8) Nursery afternoon Mrs Wilson (8) P1/2 Mrs Sargeant (18) P2/3 Miss Kidd (22) P4/5 Mrs Timms (18) P5/6 Mrs Ferguson (22) P7 Mrs MacDonell (17) We aim for high standards and we work in partnership with parents. The support of our parent body is exceptional, and greatly enhances the children’s experiences. We have strong links with our local community including the clergy, local businesses and industry and the Speyside group of schools. Our children access high quality provision such as the Speyside High School swimming pool, Rothes Football Ground, the Grant Hall and the generous Wind Farm Community Benevolent Fund. Children attend from Rothes and the surrounding countryside area, including the Glen of Rothes, Orton and Craigellachie to the west of the River Spey. Pupils from outlying areas travel to school by taxi or minibus, provided by Moray Council. The Scottish Government offers parents the right to the school of their choice regardless of catchment. If you would like your child to attend The Rothes School and you live outside of our area, please use a placement request form and send this to Moray Council. The school office staff here will offer you guidance if you wish. For entry to our nursery please contact the school directly. We admit pupils at the beginning of each term. Prospective parents of children allocated a place are invited to participate in the induction days during the summer term.

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Enrolment For Primary 1

The school session begins in August. Parents with children whose 5th birthday falls between 01 March 2017 and 28 February 2018 should enrol during the week of 16 – 20 January 2017 for a place in the August Session for Primary 1. A programme of transitional activities is planned in the summer term prior to enrolment to help your child prepare for school.

Transfer from other schools

We are very happy to welcome new pupils and their families. If you are considering placing a child at The Rothes Primary School, you should telephone or visit the school office to request an appointment to visit Mrs McPherson, the head teacher. You will be shown around the school building, have the opportunity to visit classes and meet some of the teachers and support staff. We normally admit children who live in or move into our catchment area immediately upon the request of their parents. The only enrolment formalities are the completion of an admission form and the production of the original birth certificate.

Transition from P7 to High School

At the end of Primary 7, pupils move onto their secondary education. Most children graduate to Speyside High School in Aberlour. There are transition activities for pupils and parents during the latter months of Primary 7. This gives pupils an opportunity to meet children from other schools who will be entering their first year at High School with them. There are also enhanced transition opportunities scheduled for pupils with additional needs

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School Ethos

At Rothes Primary School we want to enable our children to be ‘successful learners’, ‘confident individuals’, responsible citizens’ and ‘effective contributors’. We do this in a variety of ways.

Successful Learners

Confident Individuals

A structured and balanced ‘Curriculum for Excellence’.

Varied teaching approaches. E.g. ‘active learning’.

Pupil responsibility for self/peer assessment and target setting.

Monitoring progress, recording achievement and attainment to ensure each child reaches their potential.

Celebrating a wide range of achievements both in and out of school

Identifying the emotional, physical and social needs and help pupils develop positive attitudes

Providing support for children with additional needs.

Celebrating success in the classroom, the school and in ‘out of school’ life.

Encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle.

Creating a warm, caring and supportive atmosphere in which children, staff and parents feel secure and valued.

Responsible Citizens

Effective Contributors

Encourage children to enrich the community by acting responsibly and by valuing the unique culture and traditions of its past.

Respect differences of race, culture and belief and celebrate this enriching factor. Equal opportunities exist for all.

Pupil decision making through the pupil council and class circle time.

Promoting attitudes of enterprise and self-reliance.

Encouraging pupils to work on their own, and in teams

Applying thinking skills, to create and develop ideas, and to solve problems.

Taking responsibility for issues both within school and beyond into the wider community.

The Involvement of Parents in the Life of the School

Parents and friends are welcome helpers around the school and in classes. This enables us to deepen the home-school link and to broaden the curriculum. Adults share their interests and expertise with children in a variety of activities. We believe that it is important for children to participate in school concerts, educational visits offsite, local activities and inter-school competitions, and for this our dedicated team of parental helpers are most valuable. We wish to fully involve parents in their child’s education. Early in the year we have an open evening as an opportunity to informally meet teachers and discuss how your child has settled and how you are able to support learning throughout the year. There is further reporting in writing and an opportunity mid-year to discuss progress and explore home learning opportunities as well as open afternoons for parents to see their child’s

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learning in action. We invite parents to take an active interest in all that your child does and support us in maintaining our high standards. At all other times of the year, you are welcome to telephone or approach the school office to request an appointment, to speak to a teacher or other member of staff at a mutually convenient time. If attending in the school day is inconvenient, we also offer a telephone consultation.

The Rothes School Association (RSA)

The school has an elected council, which meets regularly, with the Annual General Meeting held in September. The council exists to provide parents with an effective link with teachers, to represent their views and to promote good relations across the community. All parents are entitled to attend the council meetings. Please contact the school or our Chairs, Claire Meldrum and Anne-Marie Chalmers, for further details.

The Rothes School Pupil Enrichment Fund

The Fund was set up as a Charitable Trust in 2003, with the aim to invest a capital sum to be used for the well-being and benefit of the pupils of the school. The Trust Board consists of the Head Teacher, our School Administrator, a Community Representative, a Local Councillor, a parent representative nominated by the RSA and Local Business representatives and meets regularly to manage the Fund and consider requests for funding support.

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Information for parents

A series of leaflets has been produced by Education and Social Care for parents and carers. These leaflets are available from the school foyer, or from The Moray Council Internet site.

First Aid

Minor cuts, grazes, bumps and bruises, stings, etc. are treated in school by trained First Aiders. Any action taken is recorded in the school office and the school will inform parents if there is further concern that the injury should be monitored. All bumps to the head will be informed by letter. If a child suffers any serious or questionable injury we will contact parents or emergency contacts immediately to discuss how the injury is being attended. WHEN CHILDREN TAKE ILL IN SCHOOL, PARENTS WILL BE CONTACTED. IF PARENTS ARE

NOT AVAILABLE, THE EMERGENCY CONTACT IS NOTIFIED. A CHILD WHO IS ILL MUST

ALWAYS BE COLLECTED FROM SCHOOL BY A PARENT OR DESIGNATED ADULT, WE WILL

NOT SEND PUPILS HOME ALONE IF THEY ARE SICK OR INJURED.

The Standards and Quality Report

Some of the School’s Successes in the Last Year

Taking part in local sporting competitions, such as cross country, orienteering, cricket

Enjoying a 4 day residential activity holiday at Alltnacriche.

Inspiring positive outdoor learning

Monthly community assemblies, to share our learning.

Harvest Festival – a show and collection of food for our elderly villagers.

House competitions organised by the pupils

Christmas show and The Scottish Opera

Nursery children community presence

Pupils compete in the Gordonstoun Challenge

Fundraising Events

The Christmas Fayre and other Christmas celebrations including “eco decoration making workshops”

Contributions to the Rothes Flower Show Information on Rothes (and other schools) performance can be obtained at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionandreview/reports/school/index.asp

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School Meals

Meals are cooked on the school premises and of a very high quality. The weekly menu is displayed in the dining room and in the classrooms at the beginning of the day. The children make their choices in advance, wearing a wrist band to indicate preference at the servery, which ensures efficiency. You may purchase tickets in advance from the cook, Mrs McIntosh. She is available every morning in her office which can be accessed from the porch at the rear of the main building. All children in P1, P2 and P3 are entitled to a free school meal. Some children in P4-7 will also be entitled to a free meal if their household income is low. To check your eligibility, contact Moray Council or their website and complete a claim form. Our office staff will guide you in this process if necessary.

Uniform

With the support of parents, we strongly recommend the school uniform which is:

navy school sweatshirt or cardigan

white or yellow polo shirt

grey or black skirt / pinafore or trousers

grey shorts for boys and blue gingham dresses for girls in the summer months

Nursery pupils have a red sweatshirt, with a special Nursery design. School sweat shirts, polo shirts, fleeces, jackets and hats sport the school logo and are available from the school office, which keeps items in stock or can order for you. Please contact Mrs Irene Duncan to purchase uniform. Some households will be entitled to clothing grants from The Moray Council. Further information can be found on The Moray Council website or from our school office.

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Guidelines on Footwear

Suitable footwear, conducive to safety is essential for every activity. Therefore, we urge parents to support choosing school shoes and gym pumps as everyday school wear. Many winter boots are warm and comfortable, but we encourage pupils to remove wellingtons before entering the classrooms as they can soak the carpets and are often uncomfortable for younger pupils who frequently sit on the floor. Trainers are designed to give spring and energy to movement, and therefore can increase risk during mass movement in confined indoor spaces. It is therefore preferable if parents restrict the use of trainers to outdoor play and physical training activities, providing suitable shoes or pumps to be worn indoors. While these are only guidelines for good practice, please be mindful that your child may be asked to remove footwear that compromises safety or damages the flooring.

Jewellery

In the interests of Health and Safety, and to minimise distraction, children should keep jewellery to a minimum. The school accepts no liability for any loss of pupil belongings. Your child may be asked to remove jewellery if safety is considered compromised.

Child Protection

Staff at Rothes Primary undertake to:

Treat children with respect

Act with good intentions towards all children

Respect the child’s right to personal privacy

Encourage children to approach a staff member with any concerns or worries If a child talks to a member of staff about abuse, the staff member is legally bound to report formally through Child Protection systems. This safeguards both the child and the adult. Parents are notified unless in so doing it places a child in serious danger. To speak to someone in confidence regarding any Child Protection issue, please contact the school office to make an appointment with Mrs McPherson, the head teacher. For any allegation against the head teacher, the Education Authority conducts an investigation. A copy of the Child Protection Guidelines can be viewed by parents, by contacting the school office.

Concerns and complaints

Parents are welcome in the school at any time to make an appointment for a time when the teacher is free from class commitment. If issues remain unresolved then an appointment with the head teacher, Mrs Beverley McPherson, will take the matter further, and guidance can be given should you wish to proceed with formalising a complaint.

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Behaviour Policy

We encourage children to treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. Teachers, support staff, students and volunteers follow our positive behaviour management policy. Praise for excellence underpins our daily practice.

Positive Behaviour Rules

To enable learning, a calm and purposeful atmosphere in and around the school is essential. We, therefore, encourage children to observe the following:

Politeness and respect for one other, members of staff and visitors

Care of, and respect for property and resources, including that of other children

Safe movement around the building and outside

Calmness and social harmony

Respect for everyone in the community

A positive attitude to learning

Positive participation in the school experience

Restorative Justice

The first role of teachers is as educators, and in that respect, restorative justice is usually the most effective way to maintain order and guide children in socially acceptable behaviours. Teaching children positive social behaviour is a priority and we work hard to retrain those failing to comply. Our policy is to encourage children to be honest about their role in any situation and we emphasise that if we withhold the truth we can only make a bad situation worse. In order to have maximum effect, we will contact parents to discuss possible strategies to support the pupil. We ask parents to support the school’s behaviour policies and the use of considered sanctions if considered appropriate.

Sanctions

Where the positive approach fails to result in excellent conduct, sanctions will be enforced.

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Some sanctions are necessary, for the safety of all of the children, and rarely, but conceivably, this could lead to temporary or permanent exclusion.

Bullying

Bullying is a very serious issue and can leave a person emotionally and physically harmed for life. For this reason bullying must be eliminated. Bullying is prolonged emotional or physical attack, and includes racism, hatred, harassment and discrimination. It may be done face-to-face or written (including cyber). Sometimes it is carried out discreetly and we at school, together with parents, can only work to eradicate it if pupils are confident enough to bring it to our attention. All incidents of bullying and anti-social behaviour are investigated and taken very seriously.

Leaflets on Bullying, Disability Discrimination and Race Relations are available from The Moray Council by telephoning, emailing or accessing the web page on the council website. Our office staff will help you access these if necessary.

The Curriculum

Our curriculum is all about bringing real life into the classroom and taking lessons beyond it. Learning and teaching will focus on skills and knowledge in addition to deepening understanding. Basic skills of numeracy and literacy are at the heart of teaching in Rothes Primary School and Nursery. In Rothes, this means that we consider our particular needs, the context of the school, our geographical location and social connections in order to design a curriculum that is relevant, highly motivational and poignantly effective for our pupils, their families, this community and their individual futures. This curriculum design is ever changing as the needs of our pupils and our context change. Teachers are committed to a “Building the Curriculum” programme to developing and extend learning for contemporary conditions. All learning must take account of these seven design principles to ensure children's development is useful and meaningful across a wide range of learning.

Challenge and Enjoyment Breadth Progression Depth Personalisation and Choice Coherence Relevance

Our curriculum is divided into eight different subject areas: 1. Language (including English) - Communicating with others. Reading, Writing and

Modern Languages 2. Numeracy and Mathematics - Number work, Problem Solving 3. Health & Wellbeing - Personal, social and emotional health. Physical Education.

Healthy eating and associated learning such as growing food. Outdoor education and outdoor activity benefits.

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4. Expressive Arts - Art, Drama, Music and Dance, (Includes Creative writing, film and photography and computer art).

5. Religious and Moral Education 6. Sciences - Understanding our planet 7. Social Studies - Scotland and the World; past, present and future. 8. Technologies - Food, Design and Computing.

Curriculum for Excellence (often shortened to CfE) is the curriculum in Scotland for children and young people aged 3-18. It aims to raise achievement for all, enabling young people to develop the skills for learning, life and work. It enables professionals to teach subjects creatively, to work together across the school and with other schools, to share best practice and explore learning together. Curriculum levels describe the progression in learning and development of children and young people from age 3-18 years. In brief, these are:

Early Level - pre-school through to end of Primary 1.

First Level - through to the end of Primary 4.

Second Level - through to the end of Primary 7.

Third and Fourth Levels - Secondary 1 - 3.

Senior Phase - Secondary 4 - 6. As a general guide, children are expected to be at Second Level, and beginning to learn and develop at Third Level, as they make the transition from Primary into Secondary Education. Children and young people progress through these levels at their own pace; and naturally some do so more quickly, or a little later than expected, dependant on individual circumstances and needs. The depth and breadth of learning in any particular level will also depend on the individual child, and this is usually preferable to accelerating onto the next level ahead of peers for gifted pupils.

Religious observance

At Rothes Primary School we learn tolerance and concern for others including those with different religions, beliefs and ways of life. We celebrate our differences and recognise that in learning of other cultures and faiths we become stronger in our own convictions.

We use our assemblies not only for religious observance but also to promote sound moral values. Special assemblies, open for anyone to attend, are held in Rothes Church at Christmas and Easter. Parents who wish to exercise their right to withdraw their children from religious observance may be assured that the children are treated sensitively. To make these arrangements, please book an appointment through the school office with Mrs McPherson, the head teacher. At the end of the school year a closing ceremony is held. This is a celebration of the school’s work over that year. It is an opportunity to celebrate the effort and achievement of our pupils and staff. A variety of people from the community are invited to attend this ceremony. Please note this is not an occasion of religious observance.

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Assessment

Assessment is important information about your child’s progress is collected systematically and used to plan their learning. Testing and tracking takes place regularly throughout the school year, and pupils are involved closely in understanding where they are in relation to targets and expectations. PIPS testing of Primary1 pupils takes place at the start and end of the school year. Primary 2 to 7 pupils complete INCAS tests in Developed ability, Reading and Numeracy/Mathematics. These diagnostic assessments are used as an internal tool in the school to confirm the teacher’s assessment and your child’s progress over the year. Whenever your child is tested we strive to minimise the fuss and create an atmosphere in which the child feels safe and confident, as far as possible making it an enjoyable experience, for instance by using the word ‘quiz’ instead of test, or by reassuring children that the purpose is to show us what we need to teach and therefore not knowing how to answer or having a guess is just as helpful as getting things right. Primary 1 tests are carried out on a one-to-one basis with the class teacher or the Head Teacher, to ensure that maximum attention is given to each pupil for an accurate picture of their performance and for their well-being.

Support For Learning / Additional Needs

When a child has been identified as requiring additional support, parents will be notified and invited to come in to school to discuss the matter with the class teacher and/or the Support for Learning teacher. Children experiencing difficulties are usually given an individualised programme of work (IEP) and this may involve a request for additional home support. This is devised by the teaching staff. It is monitored and updated on a regular basis with parental involvement, to track the child’s progress. Our teachers also work in close partnership with other agencies such as Speech and Language Therapy and Educational Psychology, ensuring that support is available whenever a child may need it. If you have any concerns whatsoever about your child’s progress, please make an appointment to discuss the matter with the class teacher. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 is explained on The Moray Council’s website and the council’s provision for additional support needs in the authority is explained. There are also internet links to other potentially useful organisations via The Moray Council’s website. Additionally, information on GIRFEC (“Getting it Right for Every Child”) is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/gettingitright

Homework

Pupils are given reading homework every day and written homework most weeks consisting of about 40 minutes of word lists and exercises to consolidate classwork. As children mature they will also be given homework planning challenges to research and prepare talks and presentations. Further information on how parents can support their children can be found on: http://www.LTScotland.org.uk/Parentzone

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http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/cfe/index.asp http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/resources/index.asp

Extra-Curricular and After School Activities

There are many opportunities for children to become involved in extra-curricular activities after school and at lunch times. We offer a wide range of activities and clubs that are run by members of staff, sports coaches or parent volunteers. All adults are required to have a current and valid PVG certificate.

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Child Protection

Named Person Standard Statement (Primary Handbook)

As part of the national Getting right for every child (GIRFEC) approach children and young people from birth to 18, or beyond if still in school, and their parents will have access to a Named Person to help them get the support they need. In primary schools the Head Teacher Mrs Beverley McPherson is usually the Named Person and will remain throughout their time at primary school. On transition to Secondary School, Principal Guidance Teachers usually become the Named Person. The Named Person will be the single point of contact for children and young people, their parents/carers and the professionals who work with the child or young person.

The GIRFEC approach (which includes the Named Person Service) aims to improve outcomes for children and their families based on a shared understanding of wellbeing. Most children receive the support they need from their own families and their community, in partnership with universal services such as health and education. Where extra support is needed the GIRFEC approach aims to make that support easy to access with the child or young person at the centre. It looks at a child or young person’s overall wellbeing to establish how safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included (SHANARRI – wellbeing indicators) they are, to ensure that each and every child gets the right support, at the right time, from the right people.

The Named Person Service supports this approach, offering a single point of contact for children and their families at a time when support may be needed. It also serves as a way to coordinate multi-agency support (eg from health, social work, police etc) if required.

Should you have anything you would like to discuss regarding a child’s wellbeing, please do not hesitate to contact your Named Person by phone, email or alternatively a letter marked for the attention of your Named Person.

Part 2 of this handbook contains:

The Moray Council Appendix of useful web pages

The School Development Plan

These are available in downloadable form from the website or alternatively a paper copy can be printed for you, on request, at the school office.

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Term Dates

Session 2016-2017 (all dates inclusive)

Spring Term: Monday 9 January to Friday 31 March 2017 Spring Holiday: Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April (Good Friday) 2017 Summer Term: Monday 17 April to Friday 30 June 2017 Summer Holiday: Monday 3 July 2017 to Monday 14 August 2017

Mid-Term, In-Service and Other Closures:

Mid Term Holiday: Friday 10 February and Monday 13 February 2017 May Day Holiday: Monday 1 May 2017 In-Service Closures: Thursday 18 May and Friday 19 May 2017

Plus 1 occasional day holiday when the school will be closed:

Speyside High School ASG: 5th June 2017

Session 2017-2018 (all dates inclusive)

Autumn Term: Tuesday 15 August 2017 to Friday 6 October 2017 Autumn Holiday: Monday 9 October 2017 to Friday 20 October 2017 Winter Term: Monday 23 October 2017 to Friday 22 December 2017 Christmas Holiday: Monday 25 December 2017 to Friday 5 January 2018 Spring Term: Monday 8 January 2018 to Thursday 29 March 2018 Spring Holiday: Friday 30 March 2018 (Good Friday) to Friday 13 April 2018 Summer Term: Monday 16 April 2018 to Friday 29 June 2018

Mid-Term, In-Service and Other Closures:

In-Service Closures: Monday 14 August, Monday 13 November and Tuesday 14 November 2017

Mid Term Holiday: Friday 9 & Monday 12 February 2018 May Day Holiday: Monday 7 May 2018 In-Service Closure: Thursday 17 May and Friday 18 May 2018

Plus one occasional day holiday to be agreed by 30 March 2017

- See more at: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_55829.html#Session 2016-2017 (all dates inclusive)