SCHOOL POLICIES AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
School lunches can be provided for children requiring medically prescribed diets. These are diets required to treat a specific condition e.g. a gluten free diet for coeliac disease, a milk free diet for milk intolerance. To organise a diet for your child you need to ask your GP or Dietician to write to: Fiona Dawson, Monitoring Officer, People Directorate (Physical Resources), Angus House, Orchardbank Business Park, Forfar, DD8 1AE. Please include details of your child’s name, address, date of birth, the school they attend and the type of diet they are on.
SNACK PROVISION (PRE-SCHOOL ONLY)
There are no charges for the 5 session of pre-school education provided each week for eligible children. To cover snack provision, a small charge £1.50 is levied each week. In line with the Scottish Government Guidance, this amount will be for the purpose specified and not used as a means of raising funds for wider purposes.
SCHOOL MEALS
It is the Authority’s policy to provide meals and facilities for the consumption of packed lunches in all schools where these are required.
School lunches are provided by Tayside Contracts and school menus meet the Nutrient Standards set for school lunches. An interactive copy of the menu, as well as other useful information, can be found on the Tayside Contracts site at
http://www.tayside-contracts.co.uk/school-catering.cfm
School lunches are planned so that children can choose a well balanced meal, which includes a good selection of bread, vegetables, fresh fruit, milk and fruit juice being available daily.
However, some pupils prefer a packed lunch. We think a well balanced packed lunch with a tasty alternative to chocolate biscuits and sweets is very important, although one small treat per day does no harm! Dates, raisins, sultanas, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes and seasonal fruit could provide healthy alternatives. Unflavoured milk and water are the ideal drinks for teeth and a pure fruit drink or mineral water is better than drinks with a high sugar content.
Sandwiches often form a major part of a packed lunch. Fillings for sandwiches should be chosen with care because the packed lunch will be stored in a warm classroom for a number of hours. It is therefore advisable to use a cool bag and ice pack and choose fillings that are less likely to be affected e.g. cheese and tomato, salad, egg and tomato. An alternative to sandwiches could be cooked pasta with a variety of fruit or vegetables and a suitable dressing. Occasionally a piece of quiche or pizza could be included.
The school aims to encourage young people to enjoy food which is both attractive to them and nutritionally sound whether this is a school meal, a packed lunch or a snack. We would appreciate your support in achieving this aim.
Applying for Free school meals
As of 5th January 2015 all Primary 1 – 3 pupils are entitled to a free school meal. However free school meals are available pupils in P4 – 7 whose parents or carers receive:
Income Support
Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and where their income is less than £15,910 (in 2013/14 as assessed by the Inland Revenue)
Parents or carers who are receipt of both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income below the threshold for receipt of maximum Working Tax Credit, currently set by the UK Government at £6,420
Support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Pupils aged between 16 and 18 years who receive any of the above benefits in their own right also qualify.
Entitlement to Free School Meals is assessed as part of the application process for
Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit and you should complete an application form which is available at your local benefit enquiry office or by telephoning 01382 536500 or FREEPHONE 0800 252056 (mobiles may be charged).
However, if you are not eligible for these benefits a separate application process exists and you should still contact any of the telephone numbers above for details.
HEALTH CARE
You can contact the school nurse below:
Jill Parker
School Health Nurse
Telephone Number: 01382—432078
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES
Many pupils will, at some time in their school careers, need to take medication. For the vast majority this will be a short-term requirement, with pupils simply finishing a course of medication which has been prescribed for them by their family doctor. Wherever possible parents are requested to ask for GP prescriptions which can be administered outwith the school day, ie in the morning and evening.
However pupils may have medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes which may require long-term support and, if their conditions are not properly managed by taking regular medication in school, their access to education could be limited. In addition, some children have conditions which may require occasional staff intervention eg severe allergic conditions such as anaphylaxis. Pupils with such conditions are regarded as having health care needs but, notwithstanding these, the vast majority of children with such needs are able to attend school regularly and, with some support from the school staff, are able to take part in most normal school activities.
In any of these circumstances parents (or young people themselves if they are over the age of 16) should discuss the matter with school staff and agree the arrangements which will be made to provide support for the pupil. A written request form must be completed in advance when any medication is to be administered or taken in school.
issued. Where a pupil’s address falls in the delineated area of a resourced school, and is within reasonable walking distance, the Authority will take advice from the Community Child Health Service before deciding if free transport should be provided.
TRANSPORT—see link below
https://www.angus.gov.uk/schools_and_young_people/travel_and_trips/free_school_transport
The Authority will provide transport for primary school pupils living over two miles and secondary school pupils living over three miles from their delineated area schools. In these cases, bus passes are issued to pupils where suitable public transport exists, and contract transport is arranged where there is no suitable public transport. Vacant seats on non-registered vehicles may be allocated to pupils on a concessionary basis. Concessionary seats must be re-applied for an annual basis prior to the end of the school year in June.
Where a parent who resides less than two miles from the delineated area primary school considers that on grounds of safety the journey to school is unreasonable for his/her child to undertake when accompanied by a responsible adult, he/she may apply to the People Directorate for consideration to be given to the provision of transport. This applies only where no suitable public transport is available.
Application forms are available from the school office or you may apply on-line on the Council website at http://www.angus.gov.uk/
The Education Authority may also consider requests for transport involving exceptional circumstances.
The Authority may provide free transport where necessary for pupils who attend a Specifically Resourced School proposed by the Authority. In certain cases, pupils may be encouraged to make their own way to school by public transport, and where this is authorised, bus passes are issued. Where a pupil’s address falls in the delineated area of a resourced school, and is within reasonable walking distance, the Authority will take advice from the Community Child Health Service before deciding if free transport should be provided.
INSURANCE
The Authority insures against its legal liability for:-
- A) personal injury and
- B) damage to property not belonging to the school or Council.
This means that if an injury is sustained or personal property is damaged/broken/lost due to negligence or omission on the part of the school or its staff, claim costs will be met by the Council’s public liability policy. There is no automatic right to compensation. It is the responsibility of the person making the claim to prove that the Council has been negligent in their actions leading to the loss.
Parents may wish to consider their own insurance arrangements in terms of appropriate extensions to their household insurance or arranging their own separate covers.
MUSIC SERVICES— see link below
https://www.angus.gov.uk/schools_and_young_people/parent_and_pupil_guidance/music_in_schools
Angus Council aims to provide a quality music service which will raise attainment and enable pupils to achieve their full musical potential by:
- providing quality tuition
- enriching the cultural and musical life of schools through ensembles, bands and orchestras and choirs
- ensuring equal opportunity to access to as many pupils as time and resources allow
- fostering life-long skills which can serve the wider community
- instrumental instructors actively promoting music for as many youngsters in Angus as possible
PARENTAL ACCESS TO RECORDS
The School Pupil Records (Scotland) Regulations 1990
Details of the regulations and process for obtaining information specific to pupils are available by contacting the school directly.
CHILD PROTECTION – see link below
https://www.angus.gov.uk/media/child_protection_guidelines_and_procedures
Given on-going public concern on the subject of child abuse, and recent changes in the law, schools are now required to report if they think any child may have come to harm as a consequence of possible abuse.
A member of staff in each school has been appointed to be responsible for Child Protection matters and special training has been given to these people. Should you wish further advice about Child Protection and the safety of children, please feel free to contact the school.
The school has good liaison contact with the School Medical Officers, Social Workers, and the Police, any or all of who may become involved if abuse is suspected
TRANSFERRING EDUCATIONAL DATA ABOUT PUPILS – see link below
EMERGENCY CLOSURES
Summary leaflet for parents – see links below
http://www.angus.gov.uk/atoz/pdfs/parents.pdf
https://www.angus.gov.uk/schools_and_young_people/emergency_school_closures_and_transport_updates
In the event of the school having to close due to an emergency e.g. adverse weather conditions putting pupils at risk, heating failure etc., the procedure is as follows: –
In the event of an emergency closure outwith school hours updated postings will be made on the http://www.angus.gov.uk/website. During office hours the Council’s ACCESS Line 08452 777 778 (low call rate) will provide this information as will the Tay Connect Information System (0844 855 1724, Selection One) and possibly via Radio Tay. Updates will also be available via Twitter @anguscouncil and Facebook (facebook.com/angus council) which will provide ‘real time’ information during severe weather.
In case of an emergency, if effective arrangements are to be made, it is essential that the school has up-to-date information from parents regarding such things as changes in employer, telephone number, new emergency contact etc. Where possible a text messaging system alerting parents to arrangements will be used when mobile phone numbers have been submitted.
In whole school emergency situations, updated information will be left on the school’s telephone answering machine (where applicable) or the use of text messaging may be utilised.
USEFUL LINKS – CONTACT DETAILS
Education Scotland’s Communication Toolkit for engaging with parents –
The Scottish Government guide Principles of Inclusive Communications provides information on communications and a self-assessment tool for public authorities –
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/14082209/0
Choosing a School: A Guide for Parents – information on choosing a school and the placing request system – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/10093528/0
A guide for parents about school attendance explains parental responsibilities with regard to children’s attendance at school –
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/04134640/0
SCHOOL ETHOS
Supporting Learners – guidance on the identification, planning and provision of support http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/supportinglearners/
Journey to Excellence – provides guidance and advice about culture and ethos – http://www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk/cultureandethos/index.asp
Health and wellbeing guidance on healthy living for local authorities and schools
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi
Building Curriculum for Excellence Through Positive Behaviour and Relationships outlines the Scottish Government’s priority actions around positive behaviour in schools and is also a source of support
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/25112828/0
Scottish Catholic Education Service’s resource ‘This is Our Faith’ which supports the teaching and learning of Catholic religious education –
http://www.sces.uk.com/this-is-our-faith.html
CURRICULUM
Information about how the curriculum is structured and curriculum planning –
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/
Information about the outcomes a learner can expect to experience and achieve across literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing, as well as the 8 curricular areas –
Advice, practice and resources to support the experiences and outcomes on literary, numeracy and health and wellbeing
Broad General Education in the Secondary School – A Guide for Parents and Carers http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/b/genericresource_tcm4725663.asp?strReferringChannel=parentzone&strReferringPageID=tcm:4-634353-64
Information on the Senior Phase
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/whatcanlearnersexpect/seniorphase.asp
Information on Skills for learning, life and work –
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/whatcanlearnersexpect/skillsforlearning.asp
Information around the Scottish Government’s ‘Opportunities for All’ programme –
Information for organisations responsible for the planning, management and delivery of career information, advice and guidance services – http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-story/key-publications/career-management-skills-framework.aspx
The Skills Development Scotland website ‘My World of Work’ offers a number of tools to support career planning –
http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/
