Dumfries and Galloway Education Services
Kells Primary School Handbook
Contents
- Letter from Director Education Services
- Welcome from the Head Teacher
- Education Services Aims
- School Aims
- School Information
- Name/Address/Telephone No./Website/Email Address
- Head Teacher details
- Roll of School/Denominational status
- School Staff
- Terms and Holidays
- Contact Us
- If you need to find out something
- If you have concerns
- If you have a complaint
- How the School Works?
- Enrolment
- Moving from Nursery
- School Day
- School Uniform/Dress Policy/PE Kit
- School Meals
- School Transport
- Class Organisation
- Playground Supervision
- Positive Behaviour and Celebrating Success
- The Curriculum
- Curriculum for Excellence
- Subject Information
- The Wider Curriculum
- Extra Curricular Activities
- Pupil Council
- School Trips
- The Community
- Eco-Committee
- Home/ School Partnership
- Parent Board
- PTA
- Communicating with Home
- Attendance
- Homework
- How is my child doing? (Assessment and Reporting)
- Pupil Profiles
- Helping the School
- Helping Your Child
- Useful Information
- Support for All
- Pupil Support
- Pastoral Care
- Additional Support for Learning
- Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)
- Child Protection
- Anti-Bullying
- Educational Psychology Service
- Home School Link Worker Service
- Moving to Secondary School
- Catchment Secondary School
- Transition Activities
- Induction Days
- Support Available
- School Improvements
- Improvement plan and priorities
- Achievements
- Health and Safety
- Emergency Arrangements
- Severe Weather and School Closure Arrangements
- Health Care
- Data Protection
- Images of Pupils
- Use of the Internet
- Other Useful Information
- Pupil/Parent Support Unit
- Policies http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7432
- Letter from the Head of Education
Dear Parents,
Dumfries and Galloway Education Services is committed to delivering a high quality education for your child/ren. As part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s overall vision we aim to provide all children and young people with a good start in life and prepare them for adulthood and employment.
Education Services cannot deliver this alone for children and young people but work together with others and, as parents, you are one of our key partners. The research tells us that when parents are involved in their child’s education the child will do better. The school handbook is one of the ways in which we inform parents, not just about how the school works, but also about how you can help us help your children to succeed in school and life.
It gives me pleasure as Head of Education to commend this handbook to you as an invaluable source of information about your school and Education Services.
Yours sincerely,
Gillian Brydson
Head of Education
- Welcome from Head Teacher
In a 2012 Dumfries and Galloway Council report on The Glenkens Cluster, it was noted that we have “friendly, polite, caring young people who are well motivated to learn and achieve and a climate of mutual respect which permeates cluster schools”. As you can imagine, it is a pleasure for teachers in Kells to work with children and young people who can be described in this way and there is, as a result, a very warm, welcoming atmosphere in the school.
Mr. Gray, our Depute Head, has responsibility for the day to day management of the school and is the first point of contact for parents and carers. Much of the information that you will require about the school can be found in this handbook, but please do not hesitate to telephone or call at the school office should you wish help with any matter relating to your child’s education.
Jenny Smith
Acting Head Teacher
- Education Services Aims
Our Aim
To raise attainment in all children and young people to improve their life chances through collaboration and innovation.
Our Objectives
- We will ensure that children and young people will be at the centre of our plans.
This means planning by schools and support from Education Services will be focussed on delivering to all our children and young people the entitlements embedded in Curriculum for Excellence and Getting It Right for Every Child.
- We will improve our partnership working
This means an emphasis on Cluster working, training on Getting It Right For Every Child themes, parental involvement, multi-agency working, partnership with Community Learning and Development (CLD); Professional Learning Communities and collaboration with Education Scotland, the Care Inspectorate and Further Education colleges.
- We will encourage innovation, creativity, collaboration and a culture of sharing and learning in all our staff
This means a focus on transformational leadership, professional autonomy and local solutions and building capacity in all our staff.
- We will streamline our business processes
This means empowering our schools and staff to find better ways of working, with an emphasis on professional autonomy, local solutions, developing leadership, capacity building, effective Continuing Professional Development and implementing Getting It Right for Every Child processes.
- School Aim
Our aim is to produce happy citizens for a future inclusive society who are; Successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors who demonstrate life-long learning, with resourcefulness and resilience.
This aim was reviewed through consultation with the staff, parents and community in May 2014.
- Kells Primary School Information
Kells Primary School is situated in the picturesque town of New Galloway. We enjoy good links with our local community and together provide an inclusive, high quality education for children throughout their primary years. Kells Primary is a non-denominational school.
Address: Kells Primary School
Braeside
New Galloway
Castle Douglas
Dumfries and Galloway
DG7 3RU
Telephone: 01644 420340
e-mail: gw08officekells@ea.dumgal.sch.uk
School Blog: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/dg/TheKellsChronicle
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Roll: 29
Stages
P1/2/3/4/5 Mrs. Lynda Muir
P5/6/7 Mr Graeme Thompson
Acting Head Teacher Mrs. Jenny Smith
E-mail: gw08officedalry@ea.dumgal.sch.uk
Depute Head Mr. Zane Gray
Learning Support Teacher Mrs. Heather Hermon
Support for Learning Assistants Mrs. Jayne Brydson
Ms. Lindsaye Harper
Miss Sonja Tranter
Clerical Assistant Mrs. Alison Best
Janitor Mrs. Debbie Daly
Cleaner Mrs. Debbie Daly
Mrs Jackie Povall
Cook Mrs. Wilma Pringle
Terms and Holidays
Please find holiday list attached. Alternatively, a list of the term times and school holidays can be found at – www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1466
- Contact Us
If you need to find out something
Please do not hesitate to contact the School Office by telephone, email or in person if you require more information from any member of staff at Kells. Mrs. Best is in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and every second Thursday. At other times, the telephone will be answered at Dalry School. The school blog is also a useful source of information.
If you have any concerns
We want all of the pupils to enjoy their time at Kells. However, we are aware there are times when you may have a concern or a query regarding your child’s education. Please do not hesitate to contact the School Office to arrange a meeting with your child’s class teacher or Mr. Gray, the Depute Head, if you have any concerns.
If you have a complaint
Normally issues arising at a school level should be brought to the attention of the class teacher and senior school staff, such as the Head or Depute Head Teacher as appropriate. Complaints received directly by Education Services will, where possible, be dealt with at as local a level as possible, i.e. at individual school level.
Education Services operate within the complaints handling procedures for Dumfries and Galloway Council. Information on this can be found at http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9246 . Further support and advice can be provided to individual complainants through contacting either the complaints handler within Education Services or to the Council’s Corporate Complaints Unit.
- How the School Works?
Enrolment
Parents may opt for a place in any school they wish, at any time, but priority for a place will be granted to children from the recognised or ‘delineated’ catchment area. Information regarding catchment areas can be found on the Council’s website by accessing “Find My Nearest” http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6293.
Full details on how to enrol or move school are available from the school or on the Council’s website (see Section 16).
Parents moving into the district are welcome to make an appointment to visit the school and meet with the Depute Head, at a mutually convenient time, by telephoning the school office.
Moving from Nursery
Primary teachers work closely with nursery staff and parents to ensure that information about each child’s learning and achievements is passed on. This will help ensure that their learning and development continues without interruption. Staff will also share other information which will help the teacher to support each child’s learning, for example, relevant health issues, friendship groups and preferred ways of working.
Pupils entering P1 are now enrolled in January – the dates are printed in the local press (The Galloway News & Dumfries & Galloway Standard). The P1 teacher will visit the children in Dalry Nursery sometime in April to get to know them in a familiar setting. Following this they will be invited into school for several short sessions in May and for two mornings in June, to enable a gradual transition. They will be supported by their P6 ‘Buddies’ on these days and on at least one occasion will be invited to stay for lunch. The ‘Buddies’ also make a booklet for the nursery children about the school, to take home and share with their family.
School Day
School starts 9.00am .
Break 10.30 – 10.45am
Lunch 12.30 – 1.15pm
End of day 3.00pm
School Uniform / Dress Policy
We strongly encourage all children to wear the Kells School uniform as it reinforces they are part of the school community and ensures they are dressed appropriately for school activities.
Our everyday uniform consists of:
Kells School sweatshirt (bottle green with school badge) crew neck – £9.50 / £12.00
Kells School polo shirt with badge (yellow) – £8.50 / £10.50
Knitted sweater to 30” £11.50 & 32”-38” £13.00
Grey school trousers
Grey school skirt
Gingham dress for summer – £14.00
Shoes (preferred) or dark coloured trainers with as few markings as possible
Green fleece jacket with school badge – £13.00
Reversible Coat with school badge (green) – to 13/14 yrs £ 18.50 & 13/14 yrs upwards £22.00
Lightweight showerproof jacket with school badge (green) – £12.50
For formal occasions such as concerts and festivals:
White school shirt
Kells school tie (first tie is presented by School Parent Board). The children are also presented with a book bag when they start school. Replacement ties and book bags can be purchased from the school office.
Order forms for uniform are sent out after the Easter holidays; some stock is kept in school and can be bought at any time throughout the school year.
Parents in receipt of a grant for footwear and clothing from the authority will be encouraged to purchase items which are in accordance with the school dress code. Guidance is available on Clothing Grants from Pupil / Parent Support Unit on http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2235. Forms are available from the school office.
While it would not normally be the policy of the authority to exclude a pupil from school solely on the basis of his/her dress, persistent refusal to respond to a reasonable dress code could be deemed to be a challenge to the Depute Head / Head Teacher’s authority and thus be detrimental to the well-being of the whole school community. In such circumstances, a Head Teacher could justify the use of the school disciplinary procedures.
PE Kit
The Parent Board provide pupils with a shoe bag to hang in the cloakroom to hold their gym shoes and PE kit. The children should bring a change of clothing for PE appropriate to the weather conditions e.g. sweatshirt and jogging trousers for outside activities in cold weather; t-shirt and shorts for summer or indoor activities. In the interests of hygiene, children should always change their clothes and shoes for PE. We encourage them to bring their kit on a Monday and leave it in school until Friday as the children do have many active schools sessions which are outwith their normal PE days.
School Meals
For the past nine years Dumfries & Galloway Council’s school meal service has taken steps to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
This has been influenced by the introduction of both “Hungry for Success” and “The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007” which:
- Places health promotion at the heart of school activities
- Ensures that food and drink served in schools meets nutritional requirements
- Ensures local authorities promote the uptake and benefits of school meals and, in particular, free school meals
This has resulted in a service which provides healthy food choices with a restriction of certain foods high in fat, salt and sugar.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s current uptake of school meals is at a six year high. We would like to thank you for your continued support in encouraging your child to have a school lunch.
For more information call on 030 33 33 3000 and ask for DG First, Facilities Management (catering).
School meals currently cost £1.75 for children. Menu choices can be changed at any time. They are also welcome to bring a packed lunch to school. Any children with special dietary requirements can request a special diet sheet from the school office. Lunches should be paid for the week on a Monday morning, please. Please ensure that no glass bottles, thermos flasks or fizzy drinks are sent to school.
Free school meals are available to support families who live and attend a school in Dumfries and Galloway and who are in receipt of qualifying benefits. All Primary 1, 2 & 3 pupils currently receive free school meals. Any questions about Free School Meals can be directed to the Pupil/Parent Support Unit (See Section 16) or http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2233. Forms are available from the school office.
The children who do not go home for lunch are not allowed out of school at lunch time without written permission from their parents. The security system is switched off at playtimes and lunchtime to allow the pupils easy access to the toilets. There is always a playground supervisor on duty.
School Transport
Who is entitled to school transport?
- Pupils who live 2 miles away from their catchment school if they are under 8 years old
- Pupils who live 3 miles away from their catchment school if they are 8 years and over
- Roman Catholic children attending the denominational school for their address and who live the above statutory distances from that school.
How do I find out if my child will receive school transport?
When school transport is required for a pupil, the school will contact the Parent/Pupil Support Unit. If your child is eligible, details of the transport arrangements will be communicated to you in time for the new academic year. You can check whether your child is entitled to school transport using ‘Find My Nearest’ on the Council’s website (http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6293
Any alterations to transport arrangements that occur during the school year will be communicated prior to any changes being made. If school bus passes are required these are issued at school.
There is a Policy on School Transport and a Guide for Parents, and also Guidance for transport of children and young people with Additional Support Needs. These are available from the school, on the Council’s website or from the Pupil/Parent Support Unit (see Section 16) http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1487
Many of our pupils at Kells are transported to school on school buses which are fitted with seat-belts that must be worn. Some children who live closer to the school are transported on a “grace and favour” basis if there is room on the bus. The school has no say as to who is transported and who is not. Any parent wishing to enquire about bus transport should contact Eunice Crosbie (01776 707558 or 707500).
Pupils travelling on school buses are expected to behave in an orderly fashion and show consideration for their fellow passengers. During journeys to and from school, the bus drivers are in charge of the buses and pupils must obey their instructions. Persistent misbehaviour, or refusal to fasten a seat-belt, will be reported via a referral form completed by the driver, to the Head Teacher and permission to travel on the bus may be withdrawn.
Class Organisation
In common with all rural schools, the roll at Kells has a tendency to fluctuate. This can result in occasional changes to the class structure. This session we have 14 pupils in the P1-5 class and 15 pupils in the P5-7 class at Kells Primary. The school follows local authority and Scottish Government legislation on class sizes.
Playground Supervision before 9am
Parents are encouraged to send their children to school from 8.30am onwards as there will be an adult in the playground to supervise them. Mrs Daly, our Janitor, is in the playground from 8.30am.
Positive Behaviour and Celebrating Success
To enable pupils to become ‘Responsible Citizens’ we encourage pupils towards being
- Tolerant
- Respectful of their community, local & global.
- Understanding of different beliefs & cultures
- Caring & considerate
At Kells every member of our school is valued and has an important contribution to make to the school community. We strive for consideration and courtesy at all times as well as effort, hard work and good behaviour.
We believe that positive reinforcement is the most effective way of encouraging pupils to behave appropriately. If pupils receive attention and approval from an adult as a result of appropriate behaviour, they are likely to repeat the behaviour in order to gain more attention. By enhancing the self-esteem of pupils we believe we can not only improve their behaviour, but also their academic achievement and social skills. Children who adhere to the Golden Rules, receive forty five minutes golden time on a Friday afternoon. Children will always be given a warning before losing five minutes golden time. This system ensures that the consistently well behaved children are rewarded and all children have something to work towards. The pupils are given the opportunity to choose what activity they undertake during Golden Time.
If we feel a child is repeatedly losing golden time, we will talk to parents about it to ensure they are aware of the situation and decide on a way forward together.
Rewards
Every month we hold an Assembly and present a child from each class with a certificate for outstanding work. Their name and reason for being chosen as ‘Worker of the Month’ is then displayed in the trophy cabinet in the reception area.
House Points – These can be awarded by any adult in the school for children who are upholding the Golden Rules. These points are then added into their house Team total. The House Teams are Kenmure, Clatteringshaws and Bennan. The weekly winning team receives fifteen minutes extra playtime on a Monday. The points continue to be added up all year and are then added on to the points earned on Sports Day. The winning house is then presented with the House Cup.
Achievement Assembly
We celebrate pupil achievement in and out of school. Each term there will be one or two Achievement Assemblies where pupils have the opportunity to bring in certificates, trophies or just explain to the rest of the school their personal achievement. The pupils’ photographs plus brief explanation are then displayed on the Achievement Wall. At the end of the session the photographs and captions are placed in a scrap book for future reference by pupils and parents.
- The Curriculum
Curriculum for Excellence
Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is bringing learning to life in the way education is delivered for all 3-18 year olds – in nursery, primary, secondary, at college, workplace or community learning. It takes a fresh approach to what, how and where young people learn. It aims to raise standards, improve knowledge and develop skills, closing the gap between the lowest and highest performers. Ultimately it aims to nurture young people as successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.
How does Curriculum for Excellence work?
- The ‘learner journey’ will be joined up from 3-18 to avoid gaps and overlaps in learning and to make the most of achievements outside school.
- Learners will work at a pace that suits, with enough challenge and support to stretch them.
- Lessons will be more engaging, inspiring and relevant to everyday life.
- Teachers will make connections between subjects, helping children make sense of the world.
- Children will learn how to learn and how to use their learning, not just memorise information to pass tests. This will help them adapt in an uncertain future with the ability to think for themselves, make sound judgements, challenge, enquire and find solutions.
- There’s more focus on knowledge and skills – including vital skills: literacy and numeracy, which underpin all learning and are critical in life.
- There are changes to assessment and how progress is reported to give learners, parents and employers better information on potential and achievement.
Subject Information
At Kells we pay particular attention to the basic core curriculum as outlined in ‘Curriculum for Excellence’, which comprises:
Literacy Expressive Arts
Numeracy Religious & Moral Education
Science Technologies
Social Studies Health & Wellbeing
Where it is relevant, we teach the curriculum through the class topic, using this as an opportunity to give children a purpose and reason for learning. Teachers understand that pupils learn in different ways and try to plan activities that suit these different styles. We involve children in planning and evaluating the class topics, to ensure they take responsibility for their learning.
To enrich the class teachers’ delivery of the curriculum we have the services of specialist teachers from Dalry School in Music (Mrs Henry), Art (Mrs Collins), Physical Education (Mr Carmichael). The Glenkens Cluster Support for Learning Teacher is Mrs Hermon.
Literacy
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At Kells we base literacy around a variety of texts so the children become aware of the links between reading, writing, listening and talking. We make full use of opportunities for literacy arising out of the child’s experience of family, school, local community events, festivals, the wider world and other areas of the curriculum.
Modern Languages
The learning of modern languages by all young people has assumed ever greater importance in recent years. There has been recognition that it is necessary to improve the linguistic competence of the population in general; this is crucially important at the primary school stage.
At Kells we aim to introduce French right from P1 through the use of songs, games and fun with Mrs Deshayes. In P7 the pupils benefit from being taught by the Secondary specialist teacher, Mrs Acheson.
Numeracy
In numeracy the pupils will experience different kinds of learning to enable them to become confident with core skills and techniques and be able to apply these to problem solving and enquiry situations. These aspects will be encountered in a variety of contexts and curricular areas.
The three main themes are:
1) Number, Money & Measurement
2) Shape, Position & Movement
3) Information Handling
Health and Wellbeing
At Kells we aim to ensure the children develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing, now and in the future. We do this through cross-curricular work and health events where outside agencies may also support us in delivering the learning outcomes for this area.
As young people develop they need a supportive social environment that promotes physical and psychological health. The need for a joint home/school partnership approaching health education and health promotion is becoming more widely recognised. Please help us to encourage the children to recognise the need to keep clean e.g. provide a change of clothes for physical activities; encourage them to wash their hands after going to the toilet; and help us to reinforce the need for a healthy diet by providing healthy alternatives to sweets for their play pieces whenever possible.
Administering Medication and Allergies: All schools within Dumfries & Galloway follow the guidelines set out in the NHS 3 –18 Healthcare in Schools Policy. Please contact the school if your child needs to have medication administered during the school day. However, it is encouraged that any medication needing given is done so prior to coming to school, or after the pupil arrives home wherever possible. Parental/guardian permission needs to be given by way of a signature, prior to any medication being administered to a child. Should your child develop any allergies we are not already aware of, can you please inform the school in writing, and a Health Care Plan will be completed and the information stored on the School Management System.
All schools have been asked to insert the following statement in their handbook:
In responding to drug related incidents, the school will follow
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Authority guidelines. In all such circumstances, parents will be involved and their co-operation expected. It should be understood by pupils and parents that the police will be involved if drugs misuse is suspected.
Topic Based Studies
The local area and community provide excellent starting points through which understanding can grow to encompass other places and times. We feel it is important that children start by learning through first hand experiences, and then develop a greater awareness of their community, country and wider world.
The three following areas make a base for our Topic Based Studies:
Sciences – Sciences encompass five areas:
Planet Earth
Forces, Electricity and Waves
Biological Systems
Materials
Topical Science
Social Studies – Social Studies encompass three areas:
1) People, Past Events and Societies
2) People, Place and Environment
3) People in Society, Economy and Business
Technology – the technologies provide a range of different contexts for learning that draw on important aspects of everyday life and work. It includes creative and work-related experiences in business, computing science, food, textiles, craft, design, engineering, graphics and applied technologies.
Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts encompass four areas: Art and Design, Drama, Music and Dance.
Each represents a unique combination of ideas, skills and knowledge,
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where the children have the opportunity to create and present using practical and experiential activities. Evaluating and appreciating are then used to enhance enjoyment and develop knowledge and understanding.
Religious and Moral Education
Religious and Moral Education includes learning about different world religions and supports the development of values and beliefs. It also includes aspects of philosophical enquiry.
Our programmes encourage children to explore and respect different traditions, cultures and faiths, preparing them for the multi-cultural society in which we all live.
- The Wider Curriculum
Extra-Curricular Activities
We have a selection of after school clubs for the children to choose from throughout the year. The clubs are available thanks to the support of parents, staff and active schools personnel. We are always keen to hear from anyone who thinks they may be able to support a club.
P4-7 Netball and Football (football with Dalry pupils at Dalry School)
P1-5 Active Schools e.g. Multi sports & gymnastics.
P4-7 Pupils have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Bikeability’ scheme after school during the school session.
P1-7 Gardening Club (Terms 1 & 4)
P5-7 Table Tennis (Term 2), Badminton (Term 3) and Basketball (Term 3)
Pupil Council
In 2009 a Pupil Council was established which gives the children the opportunity to raise issues important to them and discuss school activities and initiatives. The council is made up of representatives from each class (P2-P7) who are elected by their peers through an application process. Council members are then chosen to act as chairperson and secretary. Minutes are taken and displayed on a notice board in the school. The Pupil Council also encourages their peers to use the suggestion box in the main entrance of the school.
School Trips
We try our very best to link school trips to the learning that is taking place in the classroom. This can result in local trips in the Stewartry area e.g. Clatteringshaws, Threave Castle, Shambellie House or trips further afield to the Glasgow Science Centre. Parents are given detailed information on the visits planned by the school. Pupils need parental permission plus a completed medical form before they can be allowed on the trip. We sometimes ask for a donation towards the trip costs.
In Primary five each year the pupils go to Carlingwark Outdoor Centre for an overnight residential. The Primary six and seven pupils go to Edinburgh for a three day residential every second year. Parents are given detailed information on the residential planned by the school. Sometimes an information evening is also organised for parents. Pupils need parental permission plus a completed medical form before they can be allowed on the residential. Parents are usually asked to pay a specific amount towards the cost in sending their child on a residential. The costs of residentials are regularly reviewed and subsidised to some extent so that they are accessible to all pupils.
The Community
Kells Primary enjoys good links with the local community. The community of New Galloway and Balmaclellan are very supportive of our annual Macmillan Coffee Morning in October that we hold in the Cross Keys Hotel in New Galloway. Members of the community attend Christmas Shows, Burns Suppers, Scots Concerts and PTA fundraising events held in the school. The school enjoys good links with the Catstrand Community Arts Centre which is based in New Galloway.
Eco Team
Our pupils have always shown a caring attitude towards the environment. All pupils are part of our Eco Team. Eco issues are discussed on a regular basis during Pupil Council meetings. Each class helps to maintain both the vegetable garden and flower borders and teachers use the grounds for learning where it supports class topics.
- Home/School Partnership
By law schools have a duty to promote parental involvement in children’s education. We are very keen that parents feel able to be involved in their child’s education and learning, that they are active participants in the life of the school and that they feel able to express their views on school education generally.
Parent Forum
Every parent who has a child at our school is a member of the Parent Forum. The parent council is a group of parents who have chosen to represent the parent forum. As a member of the Parent Forum, each parent can expect to:-
- Receive information about the school and its activities;
- Hear about what partnership with parents means in our school;
- Be invited to be involved in ways and times that suit you;
- Identify issues you want the parent council to work on with the school;
- Be asked your opinion by the parent council on issues relating to the school and education it provides;
- Work in partnership with staff; and
- Enjoy taking part in school life in whatever way possible
The types of things the parent council may get involved in include:
Parent Council
The Parent Council is a group of parents/carers who have been chosen to represent the parent forum.
Kells Primary has an active Parent Council who meets at least three times each session. Minutes from previous meetings and forthcoming agendas are displayed on the notice board at the school entrance. All parents are welcome to ‘observe’ these meetings and should contact the chairperson if they wish an issue to be raised.
Chairperson of the Parent Council : Dr. I. Johnston (Tel No: 01556 650365).
The types of things the Parent Council may get involved in include:
- Supporting the work of the school;
- Gathering and representing parents’ views to the Head Teacher, Education Authority and Education Scotland;
- Promoting contact between the school, parents, pupils and the local community;
- Fundraising and organising events;
- Reporting to the parent forum; and
- Being involved in the appointment of senior promoted staff.
- Supporting the work of the school
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
This group is made up of people from the Parent Forum plus teaching staff and reports to the Parent Council. Its main function is to co-ordinate fundraising activities and events for the school. Activities include a Christmas or Spring Fayre plus sponsored events with any money raised helping to subsidise trips and equipment for the schools.
Communicating with Home
School Newsletters, excursion letters, medical letters and general information letters are sent home via pupil post. Letters go home to the youngest in the family as well as the only child in the family. Parents can also request for letters to be sent home via e-mail. School newsletters are also uploaded on to the school blog – (https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/dg/TheKellsChronicle). The school blog is also a useful tool to access important school information as well as finding out about recent class learning and teaching events. The school office occasionally sends out a text message to parents or groups of parents to notify them of last minute changes or cancellations to after school clubs, lunch arrangements, uniform required etc.
Currently an interim report is issued in November / December with a follow up night for parents and teachers to meet to discuss pupil progress. A full report on pupil progress is issued in May / June, also with a follow up night for parents and teachers to meet to discuss pupil progress for the session. Open evenings are arranged as and when required.
Teachers frequently meet with parents on an informal basis before and after the school day. Appointments are set up for more formal meetings or if the teacher is unable to fully discuss an issue when initially meeting with the parent or talking to them on the telephone.
Attendance
It is your responsibility as parents to ensure that your child/children attend school regularly. For the safety of all children it is important for you to telephone the school office prior to/at the beginning of the absence. Absences are recorded in class registers and frequent or irregular absences not supported by a reasonable excuse, will be notified to parents and the matter may be referred to the Attendance Officer. If possible please try to make dental/medical appointments outwith school hours. However, if this is not possible please inform us in writing or by telephone of the appointment and arrange to collect your child from class.
Unexplained Absences/Lateness
In light of the tragic case in West Lothian in 2005 we have been advised to put procedures in place to ensure the safety of all the children in our care. In order that our procedures work efficiently and effectively we require your co-operation in the following matters:
Parents are asked to ensure that:
- The school is informed if the family is running late.
- Any legitimate absence is notified to the school by telephone before 9am on the first day of the absence without fail, and that further calls, before 9am, are made on every subsequent day of the absence.
- Contact telephone numbers, whether for home, for parents at work or for other emergency contacts, are kept up to date and are genuinely numbers where a response will be received. This is particularly important with mobile phone numbers.
- The school is kept informed of the absence and the likely return date.
- Any planned absences are officially notified to the school, in writing, in advance.
- School would be informed before 1.15pm if a child was not returning to school after lunch as a result of becoming unwell over that period.
- Latecomers report to the school office on arrival at school.
Staff will ensure that absences are checked every day and follow up the whereabouts of any child for whom we have no explanation. Due to the amount of extra work involved and necessity of having the correct information I would ask you to make a note of the above requirements and ensure that you follow through the procedures to ensure the safety of all our children.
Holidays
The Government has highlighted the importance of school attendance to a child’s development and has required schools to set targets for improved attendance. Against this background, there is considerable concern at the increasing number of term-time holidays being taken by children at the request of their parents. The Head Teacher is not in a position to refuse permission to parents for such holidays but it is the view of Education Services that these holidays should be officially recognised as “unauthorised”.
Education Services recognises that some parents have difficulties in arranging their own holidays to suit school holiday periods and parents remain free, within reason, to remove their children for holidays during term time. They should, however, appreciate that prolonged absence from school at any stage is harmful to a child’s education and it is not possible and not fair to other children to direct teaching time to assist a child who has been on holiday to catch up on what they have missed. This means that, whilst parents are at liberty to remove children from school for the purposes of family holidays, such absences will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’. Parents should continue to inform the school, in writing, of any such holiday plans.
The exception to this is when a family holiday is judged to be important to the well-being and cohesion of the family following serious or terminal illness, bereavement or other traumatic events.
Homework
We give our pupils homework for a variety of reasons:
- It helps to consolidate the work covered in class
- It gives additional practice in reading and spelling
- It can give practice in areas in which a child has been experiencing
difficulties
- It gives pupils time to collect information for projects
- It gives them time to pursue local investigations out with school time
Homework differs slightly from class to class, but it consolidates language, maths and other areas of the curriculum when appropriate. Parents can access more information on homework by requesting a copy of the Kells Homework Policy at the school office.
How is my child doing? (Assessment and Reporting)
Pupils are assessed in all subject areas by formal methods, i.e. end of unit tests; weekly spelling / times table tests, as well as informal methods such as teacher observations and continual assessment of class work. Teachers regularly use ‘Assessment is for Learning’ strategies such as peer and self assessment. Pupils are very familiar with techniques such as ‘traffic lighting’ and ‘two stars and a wish.’
Pupils in P1, P3, P5 and P7 are involved in the authority’s Assessment for Excellence, Computerised Adaptive Benchmarked (CAB) Assessments for Primary Schools.
Currently an interim report is issued in November / December time with a follow up night for parents and teachers to meet to discuss pupil progress. A full report on pupil progress is issued in May / June time, also with a follow up night for parents and teachers to meet to discuss pupil progress for the session.
Pupil Profiles
A profile is a snapshot of a child’s or young person’s best achievements at a given point in time. Profiles are primarily aimed at children and their parents and draw together a range of information about a child or young person’s learning. It is one of the ways in which a child’s achievements can be recognised. Nationally it has been agreed that profiles will be produced at the P7 and S3 stage. The profiling process gives your child the opportunity to talk about their learning and achievements with yourself and others and can challenge, motivate and support all learners. The intention is to give a rounded picture of your child, their achievements and progress in learning to date.
There is a Guidance note for parents on profiling which is available from the school office.
Helping the School
We are always keen to hear from any parents who feel they may have a skill to share. At present we have parents and former parents who work with children in the classroom, take small gardening groups, assist with the netball after school club, take the school choir and sometimes even assist with special whole school activities. We sometimes also require parents to help supervise pupils on school visits.
The PTA and the Parent Board are always keen to hear of parents willing to become more involved by helping the school in some particular way.
Helping Your Child
There are many things which as a parent you can do to support your child’s learning in school:-
- Listen, talk, and encourage – this can have a big influence on children’s learning
- Encourage your child to talk to you about their learning, what learning is happening at school and do what you can at home to build on that
- Talk to your child about their strengths and interests and how they are progressing
- Encourage your child to talk to you about their next steps in learning and find out how you can work with the school to support this
- Ask for help if you think your child needs it for any reason.
- Praise your child if he/she is working hard at something or has a achieved something within or out of school
- Encourage any reading
- Look for opportunities at home to develop literacy and numeracy skills: money, number problems, time, measuring, matching, size, reading, writing, understanding instructions, questioning information
- Encourage your child to take part in activities e.g. hobbies, clubs which will provide opportunities to develop a range of skills
- Help them work on tasks on their own and then talk about it with you afterwards
- Do things together where appropriate – learn together e.g. if your child has a project or task to do, take an interest and discuss with them what he/she is doing or offer support if this is needed.
- Help prepare for change particularly at key transitions – talk about the change together.
- Talk to them about how they are feeling
- Work together with the school by taking part in discussions about your child’s learning and progress e.g. at parents nights, reviews
Useful Information
For more information on parental involvement or to find out more about parents as partners in their child’s learning, please contact the school or visit the Education Scotland website – www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone .
- Support for All
Pupil Support / Pastoral Care
Everyone on the Kells staff wants the very best for all the pupils. We recognise that there are times in all children’s life when they may require some support. The school will work with parents to ensure their child/ren receive the necessary support from the appropriate staff member within the school or outside agency.
Additional Support for Learning
Dumfries and Galloway Council is committed to the well-being and educational development of all learners. The process of inclusion requires all involved in the business of learning and teaching to demonstrate commitment, innovation and flexibility in order to ensure that all children and young people have access to quality learning opportunities and experiences.
The Authority aims to meet the needs of all children with additional support needs through a range of provision from mainstream classes (with or without support) to part-time or full-time provision in a school with a learning centre or base.
This commitment to meeting the needs of all children is based upon the requirements of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 amended in 2009 and is translated into procedure and practice by Dumfries and Galloway Education Services’ Support Manual. This Support Manual is available on-line for all staff within schools and is able to be updated and kept live.
Currently Mrs. Heather Hermon is our Support for Learning teacher at Kells. She visits the school on a Monday. She works with individuals and small groups as well as occasionally supporting class teachers with the delivery of numeracy and literacy.
What is Additional Support for Learning?
If your child needs extra help or support in addition to that which is usually provided in school they can be said to have ‘Additional Support Needs’. Children may need additional support for short or long periods of time and for a variety of reasons. The reasons can include:
- Social or emotional difficulties
- Problems at home
- Being particularly able
- A physical disability
- Moving home frequently
- Behavioural difficulties
- Bullying
- A sensory impairment
- Communication problems
- Being a young carer
- Having English as a second language
- A learning disability
- Autism
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
If you have any concerns about your child you should speak to a member of staff in the school in the first instance. There are a number of ways in which concerns can be followed up. This may involve the input of other educational professionals such as Specialist teachers (Additional Support for Learning teacher, Sensory Impairment Specialists) and Educational Psychologists. It may also involve your child being referred onto staff in external agencies such as health staff (Speech & Language therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist etc). As a parent you will be closely involved in the whole process and your views sought throughout. If, after discussion with all concerned, it is felt appropriate, your child will have an educational plan which will identify how they are to be supported.
Your child’s progress will be kept under review and any plans and support will be changed as necessary. As a parent you will be closely involved in any review process. There will be several opportunities for you to discuss your child’s progress. This may be through informal discussion with the teacher or at Parents’ Nights or it may also be through more formal, focussed meetings with all agencies involved. You should discuss and agree with the school how you would like to be involved.
A small number of children require a more detailed planning process which co-ordinates the input of education and other agencies to fully support the child. This plan is called a Co-ordinated Support Plan. The Co-ordinated Support Plan process is managed by Education Officers with responsibility for Additional Support for Learning.
Further information on all of the above is available from the school or on the Council website.
http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10757 or from the following sources:
- Enquire – the Scottish advice and information service for additional support for learning, a charitable body registered in Scotland under registration number SC003527 http://enquire.org.uk/
- Scottish Independence Advocacy Alliance, a charitable body registered in Scotland under registration number SC033576
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Scottish%20Independent%20Advocacy%20Alliance; or
- Scottish Child Law Centre, a charitable body registered in Scotland under registration number SC012741 http://www.sclc.org.uk
Parents may also access further support through mediation services provided by Common Ground Mediation http://www.commongroundmediation.co.uk/ or advocacy support through People’s Advocacy Support Service (P.A.S.S. Direct) or Parents Inclusion Network (PIN) http://parentsinclusionnetwork.org.uk .
Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is an approach from The Scottish Government that sets out how schools and other services should work with children and their families. GIRFEC is all about ensuring that children get the help they need when they need it – the right help at the right time. For you and your child, GIRFEC means that:
- You are the expert on your child and what you think matters. Getting it right for every child means that the school will always seek to involve you, to listen to your opinions and take them seriously.
- From April 2013 your child will have a Named Person in the school. Mr Gray is the Named Person at Kells. If you or your child need any advice or any support, the Named Person is your first point of contact and will make sure you get the help or advice that you need. Having a Named Person means that if there is anything that could affect your child’s wellbeing, he or she will receive support as quickly as possible so that problems do not develop.
- If your child has complex needs and requires help from several different services, GIRFEC means that all these services must work together for you and your child. You should never have to keep telling your story to lots of different staff in the school or the Education Department or the NHS. Your child will have a single plan that everyone works to and everyone is clear about what they are doing. When your child moves to secondary school there will be a Transition Plan in place for them in good time.
For more information on getting it right for every child email GIRFEC@dumgal.gov.uk.
Child Protection
All children have the right to be protected from harm, abuse and neglect. Every adult in Scotland has a role in ensuring all our children and young people live safely and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The vision for all children and young people in Dumfries and Galloway is that they should be: safe, nurtured, healthy, achieving, active, respected and responsible and included. Schools and front-line education and child care services will play an important role in ensuring all children and young people are safe and well. Further information is contained within the Child Protection Policy for Schools, Pre-School and Child Care Services which is available from the school and on the Council website.
Educational Psychology Service
Educational Psychologists aim to improve the life chances of all children and young people. Working in partnership with families and other services, we use applied psychology and knowledge of child development to address inequalities, support vulnerability and enhance inclusion. We seek to ensure that young people realise their potential to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.
We do this by:
- Working with others in a consultative way to help them make sense of difficulties and make informed choices and decisions
- Sharing knowledge about ‘what works’ and promoting evidence informed approaches to develop the policy and practice of literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing in our educational establishments and communities
- Raising awareness of the crucial role of communication, relationships and nurture in children’s lives
- Training and developing the skills of other professionals to improve children’s attainment and achievement
- Highlighting the interactive nature of assessment, teaching and learning
- Designing and implementing interventions in partnership with others which support individuals and communities to develop resilience and ensure that children are safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, respected, responsible and included.
- Supporting effective transitions (early years into primary, primary to secondary and secondary to post school) to improve the life chances of young people
The Psychological Service is based in offices in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Annan, and each school has an identified Educational Psychologist. Further information about the service is available from the school.
Home Link Worker Service
A Home Link Worker can meet with parents/carers, children or young people to offer advice or help with the sorts of things that can affect a child’s learning. These could be connected to a child or young person’s home or school life. The service aims to provide help and advice early and prevent something small from growing into a problem. A Head Teacher can ask for this support on a parent’s/carer’s behalf.
- Moving to Secondary School
Catchment Secondary School
Transfer from primary to secondary school will be dealt with by direct approach to parents from individual primary schools. Our catchment secondary school is Dalry School. Information regarding catchment areas can be found on the Council’s website by accessing “Find My Nearest” http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6293.
Parents can opt for any secondary school and full details on how to enrol or move school are available from the school or on the Council’s website.
Transition Activities
Primary 7 pupils from the Glenkens Cluster visit Dalry School every Thursday morning up until lunchtime. The pupils follow a timetable which visits most, if not all departments over the school session.
All Kells, Dalry and Carsphairn pupils meet up quite regularly during the school session. Sporting events, theatre visits, school visits related to class topic work and the sharing of guest speakers are some of the current examples where pupils meet up.
Pupils from P5 go on an outdoor residential in September each year to Carlingwark in Castle Douglas. P6 and P7 pupils go to Edinburgh for a residential every second year.
P7 pupils also visit Dalry for the more traditional induction days in June where pupils follow a timetable for two days. The pupils go to the Outdoor Centre at Stronord for the last two days of the induction week.
Support Available
On some occasions there might be a need for an enhanced transition. Mrs. Hermon, Support for Learning teacher, and Mr. Gray, Depute Head, would arrange a meeting with parents if they felt that this was appropriate for the pupil involved. If everyone was in agreement that this was the best course of action then Mr. Gray would liaise with Mrs. Smith, Acting Head Teacher. Extra sessions at Dalry School would then be arranged so that the pupil was ready for starting S1.
- School Improvements
Improvement Plan and Priorities
In May each year, the school publishes a Standards & Quality Report providing all stakeholders with a comprehensive summary of the school’s work and learners’ achievements over the last year. The first part of this report provides an overview of the school’s progress in addressing its key priorities, while the second part gives information about, for example, how well pupils are learning and achieving; how well the school is supporting children/young people to develop and learn. In June, we publish a School Improvement Plan which outlines the key priorities for the school during the year ahead, following due consultation with staff, pupils and parents. The plan indicates the expected impact of priorities on pupil learning, as well as providing brief information about the key tasks to be taken forward. Both the report and the plan are available in hard copy, on request.
- Health and Safety
Emergency Arrangements
If your child feels ill during the school day and we feel that he/she would be better at home, we will telephone you or your emergency contact. Minor accidents, e.g. cuts, bruises, are dealt with by the school staff. Serious accidents are few, but should one occur your child will be immediately taken either to your doctor or to hospital, if necessary, and you or your emergency contact will be notified. We cannot stress enough the importance of supplying the school with the relevant information we require in such a situation, i.e. your own home and work number and a telephone number of an emergency contact. Please remember that if your child stays in more than one home setting contact details should take account of this. We will request such information at the beginning of each new school year. Please update this as necessary.
Severe Weather and School Closure Arrangements
Head Teachers are authorised to make an emergency closure when the state of the weather or any other exceptional circumstance make it absolutely necessary in the best interests of the pupils. In these circumstances parents will be communicated with in a variety of ways including text messages/ phone calls and emergency contact arrangements. All school closures will be notified on the Council Website.
Health Care
Education Services is committed to ensuring that all children are able to fully participate in the life of the school. Many children will require their health care needs to be met at sometime within the nursery/school environment, for most children this will be for short periods of time only, but for some children this may require more long term planning and support. If your child has any health care needs please contact the school to discuss arrangements. Full details of the support available and your role as a parent and the role of your child are contained within Health Care in Schools 3-18 2013 which is available from the school or on the Council website.
Data Protection
Your child’s personal data will be held by the school. All personal data is held on our secure school management information system. We will ensure that the information we hold is accurate and up to date and each year you will be sent an Update Form detailing the information held by the school for you to check and update as required. Access to the school management information system is by individual user and is password protected. Furthermore, access to confidential data is restricted to staff in school as appropriate.
All schools in Dumfries and Galloway are expected to record any unusual incidents or concerns they may have about a child. Normally this information will be shared with parents or carers when issues of concern arise. This information may also be shared with other agencies, such as Social Work, if schools are asked for it. This allows all agencies who come into contact with children to make the best decisions for each individual child and to make sure they get the help they need when they need it.
If the school feels that any child may benefit from assessment or support from another agency and do not have child protection concerns they will always talk to parents or carers about this first.
Images of Pupils
We keep a photographic record of events at the school and this is used for a number of purposes. From time to time we also feature in the local press and we have also appeared on television. The authority has a policy on the use of images of pupils. You will be asked to read this when your child enrols and to clarify your consent with regard to the publication of images of your child. This permission will be obtained when your child starts school or at a new school, but you can amend your permission at any time by contacting the school office.
Use of the Internet
As part of the process of learning we allow our children supervised access to the Internet and e-mail. The authority runs its own filter system to ensure that young people are not at risk from exposure to inappropriate material. This filtering system is regularly being upgraded. We have a policy for use of the Internet and a contract for responsible use, which we ask parents and young people to sign up to.
- Other Useful Information
Pupil / Parent Support Unit
The Pupil /Parent Support Unit is there to help parents and pupils and can be contacted on the numbers shown below regarding any aspect of Free School Meals/Clothing Grants, Education Maintenance Allowance, School Transport, Home Education, Parent Council administration, school transfers and enrolment, school catchment areas, performance licences, insurance matters and financial support for those pupils entering higher education.
(01387) 260437 (01387) 260498
(01387) 260433 (01387) 260493
Policies
There are a number of National, Education Services and school policies which will provide information on a range of issues. Further details of all of these are available from your school or on the Council website http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7432. The following is a list of the policies which may be most relevant to you and your child/ren although this is not an exhaustive list:-
- Acceptable Use of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s ICT Facilities In Schools (2009)
- Attendance at School Policy (2012)
- Child Protection Policy for Schools, Pre-Schools and Childcare Services (2013)
- Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) – Dumfries & Galloway
- Children Absent from School through Ill Health – Guidance (2014)
- Curriculum Swimming Policy ( 2014)
- Digital Images Policy (2012 ) – Taking and Using Images of Pupils
- Dumfries and Galloway Equality & Inclusion
- Enrolling in Schools – Placement Policy( 2014)
- Exclusion from Schools – Policy and Procedures (2012)
- Inappropriate Use of Social Networking Sites (2011)
- Parental Involvement Strategy (2006) – this is under revie
- Primary School Class Organisation (2014)
- Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme (2014)
- Providing Intimate Care for Children and Young People with Disabilities – National Guidelines for Schools
- Providing Intimate Care for Children – Procedures for Schools and Nurseries (2011)
- Health Care in Schools 3-18 (2013)
- Respect for All – Anti-Bullying Procedures (2011)
- School Transport Policy (2014)
- Use of Mobile Phones and/or Internet Bullying – Procedures for Schools when drawing up policies (2007)
- Volunteer Policy and Procedures for Schools (2014)
Further information on all aspects of education is available on www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone
